Chief Secretary John Lee today visited Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre on Lantau Island to view the preparatory work for opening some of its units for foreign domestic helper arrivals and found it is making good progress.

The Government aims to open a total of 800 units in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the centre on September 20, with a computer booking system to be launched about one week in advance.

Accompanied by Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong and Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan, Mr Lee received briefings on the latest work progress by various departments.

The Chief Secretary spoke to staff from various departments including the Department of Health, Police, the Fire Services Department, the Auxiliary Medical Service and the Civil Aid Service to learn about their work in operating the quarantine centre and transport logistics for meals, supplies and more.

The quarantine centre is operated by the Government. The departments concerned are now speeding up their preparations on the deployment of venues and manpower, the development of a computer booking system and payment arrangements, as well as the formulation of operation details including arrangements on security, cleaning, transport, testing, meals and procurement of supplies.

Mr Lee noted that while there is a large number of helpers waiting to travel to Hong Kong, the Government must uphold the strategy of preventing the importation of cases in allowing them to come to the city in a gradual and orderly manner with controlled risk.

Together with the 409 rooms provided by a participating quarantine hotel, a total of about 1,200 units will be available for compulsory quarantine for helpers arriving in Hong Kong from various countries.

Helper arrivals from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines or Thailand have to hold vaccination records issued by the relevant authorities in the prescribed formats and stay in a designated quarantine facility.