Chief Secretary John Lee hosted an anti-epidemic task force meeting online with Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Deputy Director Huang Liuquan on February 18.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government promptly followed up on the consensus and achievements from the second Mainland-Hong Kong thematic meeting on COVID-19 epidemic.

Joining the meeting were the National Health Commission Vice-minister Wang Hesheng, as well as relevant officials and experts of the central government and Guangdong Province.

Hong Kong SAR Government officials attending the meeting were leaders of the Hong Kong SAR five task forces - Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, Secretary for Development Michael Wong, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau and Secretary for Transport & Housing Frank Chan.

At the meeting, Mr Lee expressed gratitude towards President Xi Jinping for his important instruction on the Hong Kong SAR’s anti-epidemic work.

He added that the Hong Kong SAR Government would assume the main responsibility in accordance with the instruction, make every effort with staunch determination to achieve the target of dynamic zero infection and fulfill the three "all-s" and two "guarantees" as instructed by President Xi.

Mr Lee said that the requests for assistance made by Hong Kong to the central government at the thematic meeting held on February 12 received quick and positive response.

Four epidemiology experts, along with testing personnel and mobile nucleic acid testing vehicles, were assigned to arrive in Hong Kong on February 17, just five days after the thematic meeting, to support the anti-epidemic work.

He expressed his gratitude to the Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council, the National Health Commission (NHC) and the Guangdong Provincial Government for providing full support and attaching great importance to Hong Kong.

During the meeting, Mr Wang shared his experience in the anti-epidemic work in Wuhan, Hubei in 2020 and gave suggestions on the tackling of the fifth wave in Hong Kong.

The leaders of the five task forces from the Mainland and Hong Kong SAR reported their respective progress of work and the way forward.

They conducted in-depth discussions and planned for follow-up and implementation of the most imminent tasks, including enhancement of the capacity of nucleic acid testing, enhancement of hospitals' capacity of admitting and treating patients, construction of community isolation and treatment facilities, ensuring of medical supplies and stabilising of supplies of food and other daily necessities from the Mainland.

Mr Lee said the Hong Kong SAR Government will spare no effort and leverage the central government's experience and guidance in fighting the epidemic and fully utilise the central government's support in manpower and resources, with a view to enhancing Hong Kong's capability of early identification, early isolation and early treatment of the infected.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to mobilise all available manpower and resources from the community and take all necessary measures to stabilise the epidemic situation and make this the most imminent mission, he added.