The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:
      
     The Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo Non-official Members) today (February 16) issued the following statement:
      
     The ExCo Non-official Members expressed their heartfelt gratitude to President Xi Jinping's deep concern and important instruction on fighting the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong. The Members strongly support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to assume the main responsibility to stabilise the epidemic situation soonest possible by implementing various anti-epidemic measures and according that the utmost priority.
      
     The ExCo Non-official Members said that, in the face of the fifth wave of the epidemic, the HKSAR Government has spared no effort in taking forward various anti-epidemic measures. However, the pace with which the disease has been spreading has outraced Hong Kong’s handling capacity. The Central Authorities' ardent concern for Hong Kong and strong support at this critical juncture has encouraged and touched the hearts of the people of Hong Kong and reinforced our confidence in fighting the epidemic. It fully demonstrates that the Central Authorities have all along been providing their strongest support for the HKSAR under "One Country, Two Systems".
      
     The ExCo Non-official Members would continue to take an active role in advising Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work and render their full support to the HKSAR Government to, in accordance with the important instruction of President Xi Jinping, mobilise all available manpower and resources and adopt all necessary measures to safeguard the lives and health of the Hong Kong people and the stability of our society.
      
     The ExCo Non-official Members appeal to the public to fight the epidemic hand in hand with the Government by complying with the anti-epidemic requirements and heeding to the Government's call to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The Members believe that, with the staunch support from the Central Authorities and the concerted efforts of the community, Hong Kong will overcome the difficulties and prevail over the epidemic.

Ends/Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Issued at HKT 21:22

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