In response to media enquiries on the plan of some healthcare workers to go on strike, a Government spokesman said the following today (February 2):

     Various sectors in Hong Kong have been working hard to tackle the novel coronavirus infection in the past month. Healthcare workers have been dedicated and standing fast at their posts at the forefront. The Government would like to thank and pay tribute to them.

     The Government understands that healthcare workers have been facing extreme pressure recently and some of them are worried that cross-boundary transmission of the virus would overload the public healthcare system. The Government agreed with the need to tighten management of the control points and reduce the flow of people across the boundary, and it has spared no efforts to implement relevant measures to reduce the flow of people, resulting in the remarkable drop in the number of arrivals of Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and foreign visitors at various control points. The Government is examining the infection continuously and will explore further tightening of the management of control points.

     Meanwhile, to ensure the needs of the healthcare workers are addressed when supply of equipment such as surgical masks remains tight, the Government is taking the needs of healthcare workers as prime consideration. The Hospital Authority (HA) has also amended its fee-charging policy against Ineligible Persons. 

     At this critical moment in disease prevention and control, the Government appeals to those healthcare workers planning to go on strike to reconsider their decision, continue to safeguard Hong Kong with their professionalism and together win the battle against the disease.

     The Government noted that the management of the HA will meet with its staff members later today to listen to their concerns and discuss solutions. The Chief Executive will also convene a meeting of the Steering Committee cum Command Centre later today to study ways to prevent and control the disease.

Ends/Sunday, February 2, 2020
Issued at HKT 1:01

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