The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, welcomed the arrival of four epidemiological experts from the Mainland today (February 17) for a five-day visit. The experts will share with relevant officials in Hong Kong their experience in epidemic control and assist Hong Kong in conducting epidemiological investigations more effectively and precisely, and offer guidance.
      
     To tackle the worsening situation of the fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, announced earlier that Professor Chan should be responsible for the task force of epidemiologists, co-ordinating the Department of Health (DH), the Hospital Authority (HA) and local experts to liaise with Mainland experts to assist Hong Kong in conducting epidemiological investigations and analyses.
      
     Professor Chan said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is grateful to the Central Authorities for providing their strongest support for the HKSAR, and have arranged for the Mainland experts to arrive in Hong Kong in such a short period of time to share with us their experience in anti-epidemic work and provide advice. The HKSAR Government will, in accordance with the important instructions of President Xi Jinping, assume the main responsibility to stabilise the epidemic situation early as the overriding mission at present, and mobilise all available manpower and resources and adopt all necessary measures to safeguard the lives and health of Hong Kong people and the stability of society."
      
     During the visit, the Mainland experts will meet with Professor Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko. They will also visit the Centre for Health Protection of the DH and its Contact Tracing Offices, etc, to learn about Hong Kong's work in epidemiological investigations, contact tracing, environmental investigations, the "StayHomeSafe" Scheme and sewage surveillance.
 
Membership list of the task force of epidemiologists
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Representatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:
Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan (Leader)
Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Thomas Chan (Deputy Leader)
Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam
Deputy Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Kevin Choi
Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Edwin Tsui
Assistant Director of Health (Port Health and Quarantine), Dr Leung Yiu-hong
Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko
Chief Health Statistician of the Hospital Authority, Mr Alan Cheung
 
Mainland experts:
Director of Institute of Infectious Disease Control and Prevention of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Mr Kang Min
Senior public health doctor of the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ms Chen Chun
Director of Public Health Emergency Management Department of Zhongshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ms Chen Xueqin
General Office clerk of the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Mr Yang Taohui

     ​Besides, the Mainland authorities have sent a number of testing technicians, together with two mobile testing vehicles to Hong Kong. They will visit the dedicated laboratory at Ma On Shan Sports Centre and conduct technical exchanges to help Hong Kong enhance its testing capacities.

Ends/Thursday, February 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 22:57

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