Since late January 2020, the Government has adopted a “containment” strategy with specific measures to rapidly identify, isolate and treat those infected with COVID‑19, and has also put in place measures to reduce non-essential travel and enhance social distancing. Such efforts, still on-going, showcase the concerted collaboration of various bureaux and departments in fighting COVID‑19, as well as the commitment and professionalism of numerous civil service colleagues in taking forward the anti-epidemic measures.

To control and stop the spreading of the virus, the Department of Health (DH) has progressively widened its coverage of laboratory surveillance. Apart from conducting tests for patients with pneumonia symptoms in hospitals, DH has extended the tests to cover inbound travellers returning to Hong Kong from overseas and the Mainland. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) conducts epidemiological investigation and contact tracing with the support of other departments, including activation of the Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System by the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF). The Fire Services Department handles numerous calls of confirmed or suspected COVID‑19 cases, with their ambulance and fire personnel providing quick and essential emergency services. To enhance efficiency of body temperature checks, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has expeditiously installed fixed fever screening systems in areas with high footfalls, including boundary control points, hospitals and government buildings.

With the joint tireless efforts by various departments, the robust surveillance has enabled quick detection and control of COVID‑19 cases.

To raise public awareness on how to combat COVID‑19, DH has produced various health information resources for dissemination via on-line platforms and television / radio channels. Daily media briefings are jointly organised by DH and the Hospital Authority (HA), with timely updates on the Government’s dedicated COVID‑19 website. An “Interactive Map Dashboard” has been developed through the collaborative efforts of the Development Bureau, Lands Department, CHP, OGCIO, HA and volunteers from the local IT sector to provide the public with the latest information on the COVID‑19 situation.

Maintaining social distancing is another key tactic for controlling the spread of COVID‑19 in Hong Kong. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has played an active role in the implementation and enforcement of the social distancing measures under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, and has stepped up inspection and enforcement against offenders.

The Education Bureau has maintained close liaison with schools to help them strengthen anti-epidemic measures, and put in place precautionary measures to ensure the safety and hygiene of schools upon gradual resumption of classes. With the gradual re-opening of public leisure and cultural venues, LCSD has also taken special measures to avoid the spread of the virus, including limiting the numbers of users and stepping up cleansing works.

To enable compulsory quarantine arrangements for inbound travellers, holiday camps managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) have been promptly converted into quarantine centres. With the application of the modular integrated construction method, temporary quarantine units have been constructed by the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) within a tight timeframe. Temporary units erected at the basketball court of Upper Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village at Chai Wan, for example, were up and running in less than a month’s time.

With the completion of the hardware, the day-to-day operation of the quarantine centres has generally been smooth and effective, and this would not have been possible without close teamwork among departments such as LCSD, Auxiliary Medical Service, Civil Aid Service and Social Welfare Department. HKPF also plays its essential part in escorting quarantined persons and controlling vehicular movement in and around quarantine centres and taking enforcement actions against any breaches of quarantine orders. The whole exercise, once again, showcases the collaborative works of various departments.

Information Technology (IT) has played a critical role in helping curb the spread of COVID‑19. To support DH in implementing compulsory home quarantine, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), in collaboration with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the IT sector, has developed and deployed an innovative solution with the use of mobile app “StayHomeSafe” and electronic wristbands to monitor those persons placed under home quarantine. The Police Anti-Coronavirus Contingent, comprising serving officers together with retired police and auxiliary police volunteers, has assisted OGCIO in helping inbound Mainland travellers to wear the electronic wristbands at the boundary control points. At the same time, OGCIO has set up call centres where staff and volunteers make use of communication technologies, such as real time location sharing and video calls, to make necessary checks to ensure those under quarantine are staying in their place of quarantine.

To safeguard public hygiene, FEHD has carried out disinfection of all premises with confirmed COVID‑19 cases and enhanced cleaning of public places in the vicinity. FEHD and Housing Department (HD) have also stepped up efforts in cleaning streets, public facilities as well as facilities in public housing estates. Upon knowing any confirmed case in a public rental housing (PRH) estate, HD will immediately inspect and repair the above-ground foul water drainage system of all PRH units using the same soil pipe and vent pipe. HD also provides assistance to tenants who are concerned about the current condition of their drainage pipes.

The Innovation and Technology Bureau announced in early May that the Government will distribute free reusable CuMask+™ to all Hong Kong citizens, and Hongkong Post has been tasked to assist in delivering the masks to the door within two weeks of registration. The Government has also arranged delivery of over 140,000 CuMask+™ to residential homes and social welfare institutions for their distribution to those including elderly and the homeless. Moreover, in collaboration with EMSD and ArchSD, the Correctional Services Department has converted the existing workshop at the Lo Wu Correctional Institution into its first-ever round-the-clock Filter Mask Workshop, increasing production four-fold to around 4 million masks per month.

Prompt and practical assistance are provided to stranded Hong Kong residents affected by the epidemic worldwide. Colleagues of the Immigration Department helped to evacuate Hong Kong residents aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan back to Hong Kong. The Government also arranged chartered flights to bring stranded Hong Kong residents in Hubei Province, Peru, Morocco, Pakistan, Nepal and India back to Hong Kong.

The above list of examples, showcasing the relentless efforts by various bureaux and departments in coping with the epidemic, is by no means exhaustive. The epidemic has seriously impacted the global economy, bringing severe financial and logistical disruptions across the world. Hong Kong is no exception, and the Government has announced rounds of measures to provide support for local enterprises, help safeguard jobs, stimulate the economy and relieve burden shouldered by the public. Under the direction of the Steering Committee cum Command Centre chaired by the Chief Executive, all bureaux and departments throughout the Civil Service will continue to stand united and work steadfastly to help Hong Kong overcome the difficult time of epidemic and rise above the challenges.