Work, Staff At Lok Ma Chau Loop Exempted From HK Laws

Chief Secretary John Lee on Friday exempted a mainland company and its workers from having to comply with Hong Kong laws as they construct an emergency hospital and Covid isolation facility at the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

Lee exercised his authority under the Emergency Regulation to issue the exemption, saying this would help speed up the work.

Beijing has made China Construction Science and Industry Corporation responsible for building a 1,000-bed hospital and 10,000-bed community isolation and treatment facility at the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

The SAR government says construction personnel and materials within the 40-hectare site will not be required to comply with the relevant Hong Kong laws.

It also says temporary bridges will be built to link the Lok Ma Chau Loop and Shenzhen, to facilitate the transportation of construction staff and materials from the mainland.

"This will enable the arrival of assistance and resources at full speed, thus ensuring that the works can rapidly proceed and enable the contractor to complete this urgent project as soon as possible. The temporary bridges will be dismantled after the completion of works," a statement said.

This is one of nine anti-epidemic facility projects Hong Kong is undertaking with the support of Beijing.

"The HKSAR Government expresses sincere gratitude to the Central Government for its tremendous support, as well as to the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR for its intensive co-ordination efforts, which lead to the rapid progress of the construction projects," it said.

"The HKSAR Government will continue to put forth its utmost efforts to make the best use of the support of the central government, so that the city can overcome the epidemic and Hong Kong people can return to normal life as soon as possible."