Lam expresses confidence as HK welcomes third medical team

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor reiterated on Monday her confidence that the city would stamp out its worst-ever COVID-19 outbreak with the full support of the central government.

Lam made the remark in a video speech that came on the same day as the city received the third group of mainland medical experts, led by Liang Wannian, head of the National Health Commission's COVID-19 leading task force. The team is made up of five epidemic control experts.

Speaking to media in Hong Kong, Liang said the fifth wave of COVID-19 in the city has pulled at the heartstrings of the whole country, and the central government has attached great importance to the situation in Hong Kong and called for an all-out effort to help its fight against the pandemic.

Feeling honored at taking on such a heavy responsibility, Liang said the delegation would lose no time in working out effective anti-pandemic measures with its Hong Kong counterparts.

Liang also expressed confidence in Hong Kong's ability to win the battle, with the staunch support from the central government, the strong leadership of the SAR government and concerted efforts from society.

In welcoming the five-member delegation at Shenzhen Bay Port, Lam expressed her gratitude for Liang's visit, saying that his rich experience in battling the COVID-19 pandemic will greatly help the city contain its worst-ever wave of the virus.

On Monday, a 3,900-bed makeshift hospital in Tsing Yi－the first among nine temporary community isolation and treatment facilities to be built with the help of the mainland－was also completed. In total, these facilities could offer about 50,000 places for isolation and treatment.