Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet ngor gets a briefing on the the sixth community isolation facility constructed with support from the Chinese mainland in Yuen Long on March 24, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Thursday visited the sixth community isolation facility (CIF) constructed with support from the Chinese mainland in Yuen Long. 

The first batch of six CIFs has been completed and handed over to the HKSAR government, signifying the initial achievements of the construction of CIFs with mainland support, according to a government statement issued on Thursday night.

Lam inspected the Yuen Long CIF with Tan Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the chairman of the contractor, China State Construction International Holdings Limited (China State Construction). 

Located at Tam Mei, the Yuen Long community isolation facility was built on land lent by a developer to the government for the swift construction of temporary isolation facilities. It is the largest among the six facilities constructed, providing more than 2,000 units

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Located at Tam Mei, the Yuen Long CIF was built on land lent by a developer to the government for the swift construction of temporary isolation facilities. It is the largest among the six facilities constructed, providing more than 2,000 units.

Together with the Yuen Long CIF handed over on Thursday, the first batch of the six CIFs provided about 20,000 beds for COVID-19 patients in Hong Kong, Lam said. 

The facilities in Penny’s Bay and Kai Tak will provide an additional 20,000 beds once they are finished, she added.

Lam expressed gratitude again to the central government for its staunch support, the LOCPG for its intensive co-ordination, the construction team for working around the clock to complete the works, and the three property developers for lending private lots for free.

She received a briefing from representatives of China State Construction on the scale and features of the project, as well as the challenges encountered during construction.

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Lam then inspected the isolation units and facilities together with Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) Ricky Lau Chun-kit, Director of Health Ronald Lam Man-kin, Director of Architectural Services Winnie Ho, and Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority Tony Ko. 

The Security Bureau's anti-epidemic task force showed them the Care Cart and Co-Op Platform, which were newly introduced in the facility. 

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet ngor (front row, second right) gets a briefing on the Care Cart used to ferry the elderly and people with impaired mobility at the sixth community isolation facility constructed with support from the Chinese mainland in Yuen Long on March 24, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The Care Cart will be used by the elderly and people with impaired mobility to reach and settle in their rooms easily upon arrival while the Co-Op Platform allows persons under isolation to use their mobile phone to register check-in information easily with a QR code and make requests for daily necessities and meals. 

This helps streamline the facility's operations and enhance management efficiency to better cater to the patients' needs.

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Meanwhile, over 160 million rapid antigen test kits procured with the coordination by the central government have been delivered in Hong Kong. 

Various kinds of disinfectant products and personal protective equipment have also arrived in the SAR, including over 320 million N95 masks, KN95 masks and surgical masks, as well as over 32 million articles of other protective equipment such as protective coveralls, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, shoe covers and surgical/examination gloves.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet ngor (right), accompanied by a representative of the contractor, inspects a newly constructed unit at the sixth community isolation facility constructed with support from the Chinese mainland in Yuen Long on March 24, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)