Top Beijing Covid Strategy Official Arrives In HK

A senior official from the National Health Commission, Liang Wannian, arrived in Hong Kong on Monday to help guide the administration in its handling of the Covid epidemic.

Speaking outside his hotel, Liang said the central government is highly concerned about the fifth wave of infections in Hong Kong and has demanded that the whole nation do all it can to help the city.

Liang - the leader of the National Health Commission's Covid Response Expert Team - said he felt that he has been given a glorious mission, and vowed to work closely with his counterparts in Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong's Covid-19 epidemic situation is still very severe, we definitely will seize the time and closely cooperate with Hong Kong experts, conduct exchanges with them, to ensure that Hong Kong implements effective anti-epidemic strategy and measures," he said.

Meanwhile, New World Development said a makeshift hospital on a site it has donated to the government in Fanling should be ready soon.

It told RTHK that developer China State Construction International has already moved in prefabricated parts, and utilities are also in place.

New World added that it is planning to offer free hotel stays for medical staff to help them rest after working long hours and to reduce the risk of them passing Covid to their families.