China construction firm to build COVID facilities in virus-hit Hong Kong (updated)

Sun Hung Kai Properties

25/02/2022 06:15

(Updates with media report of record daily cases)
    By Twinnie Siu and Marius Zaharia
    HONG KONG, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Hong Kong has contracted
mainland firm China State Construction International Holdings
Ltd  3311.HK  to build eight isolation and treatment facilities
to help the global financial hub fight a worsening COVID-19
outbreak, the government said.
    The temporary facilities, with a combined capacity of 50,000
beds, will be spread across Hong Kong, including on private land
lent for free by developers.
    The move follows promises of "staunch support" from mainland
Chinese authorities, with city leader Carrie Lam doubling down
on the official goal of bringing infections down to zero.
    Authorities are expected to report a new record of about
10,000 confirmed infections over the past 24 hours, up from
Thursday's 8,798, broadcaster TVB reported, citing an
unidentified source. University of Hong Kong researchers predict
new infections could peak at 180,000 a day next month.
    "The target is to maximise the site utilisation and complete
the relevant works as soon as possible, equipping Hong Kong for
the fight against the epidemic," the government said in a
statement late on Thursday.
    Sun Hung Kai Properties  0016.HK , New World Development
 0017.HK  and Henderson Land Development  0012.HK  are among the
developers that contributed to the scheme.
    Reuters reported in September that Beijing had given a new
mandate to the Chinese-ruled city's powerful property tycoons,
telling them to pour resources and influence into backing
Beijing's interests.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2Q1146
    Hong Kong is following mainland China's "dynamic zero-COVID"
strategy, aiming to eradicate all outbreaks at all costs, but
the spread of infections with the highly-transmissible Omicron
variant this year has overwhelmed the city's health system.
    This week, Lam used emergency powers granted under British
colonial-era laws to exempt mainland Chinese staff and projects
from any licensing or other legal requirements.
    As COVID rages across Hong Kong at the start of a sensitive
political year for Chinese President Xi Jinping, Beijing is
deeply invested in the city's response to the crisis.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UZ0VF
    In the past week, since Xi told the city its "overriding
mission" was to control the worsening crisis, Hong Kong has
stepped up anti-COVID measures, including plans for mass testing
buttressed by equipment, testing vehicles and personnel from the
mainland. 

    <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ANALYSIS-Hong Kong's 'zero-COVID' success now worsens strains of
Omicron spike     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UU02A
Hong Kong's future unclear as leadership election, lacking
front-runner, is delayed by COVID     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UU012
More patients, fewer nurses: Hong Kong's medical frontline
struggles with COVID surge     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UX0GS
ANALYSIS-China steps in to steer Hong Kong's COVID crisis as
risks loom     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UZ0VF
Small Hong Kong businesses say survival at stake as COVID
restrictions bite     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2UW06M
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
 (Reporting by Marius Zaharia; editing by Jane Wardell)
 ((marius.zaharia@thomsonreuters.com; +852 2843 6358;))