Govt ensures equal treatment

March 16, 2021

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:
In such an important matter as public health control, we are acting in strict accordance with the law. Everybody is treated equally before the law and in terms of our epidemic control measures, regardless of their race, their status, their identity, whether they are more resourceful or less resourceful. This is a fundamental principle in Hong Kong and we will abide by that principle. 

As far as the two confirmed cases (involving) staff of the US Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau, they have already been admitted into the hospital last night, and that’s (the first) point. 

(The second) point is for close contacts, for example, family members living in the same unit, they will be sent to quarantine centres if they do not have symptoms yet. This is the (existing) arrangement. But we are a compassionate Government, so we have been applying an exceptional treatment (to cases) where the close contacts are young children of the parents and the parents are confirmed (COVID-19 positive). So instead of sending the very young kids on their own to quarantine centres or ask other relatives and friends to go into the quarantine centres with these kids, we will exceptionally allow the admission of the children into hospitals as well. 

In this case we are applying that exceptional treatment - not exceptional because they are US Consulate General staff, but exceptional because of the family circumstances. 

And as far as the workplace is concerned, the policy is when there is one confirmed case then the workplace has to be subject to a compulsory testing notice. In other words, staff and visitors to that particular workplace and in this case, the US Consulate General, during that very specific period, they have to go through compulsory testing, and this has also been done.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government has been acting strictly in accordance with the law in terms of anti-epidemic measures to ensure everybody is treated equally.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the statement ahead of the Executive Council meeting today, noting that during the fight against COVID-19, the Government has adopted a fair arrangement.

“In such an important matter as public health control, we are acting in strict accordance with the law. Everybody is treated equally before the law and in terms of our epidemic control measures, regardless of their race, their status, their identity, whether they are more resourceful or less resourceful. This is a fundamental principle in Hong Kong and we will abide by that principle.”

Mrs Lam also pointed out that some cases needed exceptional treatment due to family circumstances.

“As far as the two confirmed cases (involving) staff of the US Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau, they have already been admitted into the hospital last night, and that is (the first) point.

“(The second) point is for close contacts, for example, family members living in the same unit, they will be sent to quarantine centres if they do not have symptoms yet. This is the (existing) arrangement. But we are a compassionate Government, so we have been applying an exceptional treatment (to cases) where the close contacts are young children of the parents and the parents are confirmed (COVID-19 positive). So instead of sending the very young kids on their own to quarantine centres or ask other relatives and friends to go into the quarantine centres with these kids, we will exceptionally allow the admission of the children into hospitals as well.

“In this case we are applying that exceptional treatment - not exceptional because they are US Consulate General staff, but exceptional because of the family circumstances.

“And as far as the workplace is concerned, the policy is when there is one confirmed case then the workplace has to be subject to a compulsory testing notice. In other words, staff and visitors to that particular workplace and in this case, the US Consulate General, during that very specific period, they have to go through compulsory testing, and this has also been done.”