Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung today visited the community testing centre at Queen Elizabeth Stadium to inspect its operation and to give encouragement to the staff.

He was briefed by the Civil Service Bureau's Director of General Grades Hermes Chan on the manpower allocation as well as the centre's design and workflow.

Mr Cheung said he was pleased to learn that appropriate arrangements had been made for the centre's design and workflow in accordance with infection control and social distancing measures.

All staff and members of the public who were tested also followed the necessary procedures, ensuring that the entire testing process is safe, quick and convenient.

He also learnt that all community testing centres have been operating smoothly as a whole since the Universal Community Testing Programme began yesterday.

Mr Cheung thanked the healthcare personnel who are responsible for collecting specimens at the testing centres as well as government employees undertaking administrative support for their efforts, which facilitated the programme's smooth operation.

"After reviewing the first-day operation of the programme, the Government decided to increase the test quota for the public to make appointments," he said.

Mr Cheung also appealed to the public to actively participate in the programme and sign up for the tests.

"The more people that participate in the programme, the higher the chances of identifying asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in the community for early isolation and early treatment.

"It will help break the invisible transmission chain in the community and contain the spread of the third wave of the epidemic so that social and economic activities can resume gradually and people's daily lives can resume as normal."