(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said one of the COVID-19 vaccines procured by the Government is expected to arrive in Hong Kong by the end of the month.

Ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning, Mrs Lam noted that the Government has been very transparent with the community about the progress made in the procurement and authorisation of vaccines.

“Three different types of vaccines have been purchased under the advanced purchase agreements and one of them, the Fosun Pharma/BioNTech vaccine, has been authorised. The latest update is this authorised vaccine will come by the end of this month.

“There have been all sorts of things happening in the European Union and this vaccine is manufactured in Germany, so we have to watch the situation very carefully. But since we have a contract to buy, I hope that all the other organisations will respect this contractual relationship and allow the Fosun Pharma/BioNTech vaccine to come to Hong Kong by the end of this month and the vaccination programme will be able to start almost immediately.”

Mrs Lam added that she has sought assistance from the Central People’s Government to ensure the early arrival of the Mainland-made vaccine.

“For the vaccine manufactured in the Mainland, Sinovac vaccine, we have been liaising very closely with the manufacturer. The latest update is that we will be given the data so that the experts could consider the data and recommend for the Secretary for Food & Health to authorise this vaccine for use.

“I have also appealed to the Central People’s Government to see if there is anything the central government could help us in ensuring the early arrival of the Sinovac vaccine. The response given back to me is the Central People’s Government will help. But for the time being, this is the sort of contractual purchase agreement between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Sinovac vaccine manufacturer.”