'Ensure Mainland Experts Follow Local Regulations'

The chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratories said mainland experts tasked with helping Hong Kong ramp up its coronavirus testing should also have their qualifications checked and registered as per local regulations.

Speaking on an RTHK programme, Li Wai-chun said no exceptions should be made even during a pandemic, and that any mainland support teams should comply with local regulations to ensure safety.

The process normally takes up to six months, but Li believed it could be shortened to "rescue lives", as he put it.

The lab expert also questioned the benefit of widespread testing if safety and accuracy couldn't be ensured.

He said combining nasal-swab sample in a test is the way to go if the city was to conduct large-scale tests, rather than collecting deep throat saliva samples.

Meanwhile, three lay members and two lay assessors of the Medical Council of Hong Kong also demanded that mainland health personnel coming to the city follow all the necessary registration procedures to ensure they have the legal qualifications to do their jobs.

Signatories of the statement include the chairman of Hong Kong Patients’ Voices Alex Lam, and the chairman of the Asthma Society Chan Wing-kai.

They said that while they understand the central government wants to lend a helping hand in fighting the epidemic in Hong Kong, any doctors, nurses and lab technicians must comply with local regulations when they come to the SAR.

They also said they were surprised that the mainland experts weren't required to undergo a 14-day quarantine given their close contact with the virus, and urged the government to treat all arrivals in Hong Kong equally to prevent a community outbreak and put public health first.