Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam today unveiled government plans to evacuate Hongkongers stranded in virus-battered Wuhan, saying four chartered flights would carry 533 passengers back home starting tomorrow.
The move comes after weeks of pressure, and a month after several other countries evacuated their nationals from the city, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. Still, speaking at a press briefing this morning, Lam denied that evacuation operation was belated.
“Up till today, Hubei province, particularly Wuhan, is still under a challenging situation in terms of the infection and cases confirmed,” she said.
“There are still very clear restrictions on exit and transport arrangements leaving the province.”
The government has previously said that more than 3,000 Hongkongers are in Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, waiting to return.
Lam said Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip and immigration chief Erick Tsang would be leading the evacuation operation.
Nip said today that a multi-department delegation consisting of 40 members, including he and Tsang, will be dispatched to Wuhan on Wednesday.
Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said that 17 medical personnel will join the operation, and each chartered flight will be accompanied by at least two doctors, two nurses, and an obstetrician, where pregnant passengers are concerned.
The returnees so far include 14 pregnant women, 11 secondary school students, and 22 residents with medical conditions in need of treatment.
Those infected with coronavirus, as well as the close contacts of confirmed patients, will not be allowed to board the chartered flights, Nip said.
To minimize health risks, he explained that Hong Kong passengers will have to undergo temperature checks four different times throughout the evacuation process, there will be a special seating arrangement, and passengers will be asked to wear protective clothing throughout.
Upon their arrival in Hong Kong, they will be sent directly to a newly-completed public housing estate in Fo Tan to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
