The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, today (January 9) inspected the prevention and control measures adopted at the boundary control point of the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in response to the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan, before departing for Guangzhou.

      Mr Nip inspected the health surveillance measures at the boundary control point in response to the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan. He said he was glad to learn that the health authorities had already stepped up preventive measures and arranged for all inbound travellers from the two high-speed trains that stop at Wuhan to have their body temperature checked with additional hand-held infrared thermometers with a view to taking timely action to follow up on any suspected cases. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has also deployed additional manpower to enhance body temperature checks on other inbound travellers and hand out health information pamphlets and answer travellers' enquiries at the health counter set up in the Station's arrival hall.  

     He then proceeded to the ticketing concourse to meet with staff members of the MTR Corporation to learn more about their health surveillance measures. He learnt that cleaning and disinfection had been stepped up at the Station and for incoming express trains from Wuhan, and disinfection facilities have also been set up for travellers.

     Mr Nip expressed gratitude to all staff members of relevant departments and organisations for their commitment in work and for their dedication in safeguarding the health of the public and travellers.

     With regard to Hong Kong residents in the Mainland, Mr Nip said that the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China in Beijing, the four economic and trade offices and the 11 liaison units in the Mainland have uploaded the relevant and latest health information on their websites and WeChat official accounts to facilitate their easy access to all relevant information. 

     Mr Nip stressed that relevant government bureaux and departments are well prepared and stand ready to quickly respond to rapid change of the virus and would provide the latest and accurate information to members of the public in an open and transparent way. He appealed to members of the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and outside Hong Kong and to strengthen personal and environmental hygiene standards. A dedicated webpage (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/102465.html) has been set up by the CHP to provide relevant information and health advice.

Ends/Thursday, January 9, 2020
Issued at HKT 18:05

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