Hong Kong’s public investigating authorities under pressure to probe unauthorised use of masks meant for civil servants

The heads of two public investigation bodies in Hong Kong are under pressure to probe accusations of unauthorised use and sales of government-produced masks, as the Post found at least 10 departments had allowed staff to take them away from their offices at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in the city.

It came following revelations that the supply of “CSI masks” – made by inmates at factories inside prisons for Correctional Services Industries, for use by various government departments – was depleting quickly. Government officials said at the weekend that only 12 million masks were left in stock, just enough for one month’s usage by all departments.

However, videos and photos showing people selling and giving out CSI-labelled masks have gone viral online over the past two weeks, calling into question how these masks – which were supposed to be used by civil servants only – had reached the market, and prompting calls for the Ombudsman and the Director of Audit to investigate.

An Ombudsman spokeswoman said the office had received about a dozen complaints relating to the use of CSI masks, and would handle them in accordance with established procedures.

Separately, opposition lawmaker Kenneth Leung, deputy chairman of the Legislative Council’s public accounts committee (PAC), wrote to the Director of Audit and called for an investigation into the production cycle of the masks, and whether there were loopholes.

“We should find out from the Correctional Services Department how many stocks are there, the production capacity, which departments are using the most masks,” Leung said. “There could be a weekly update on the production figures provided to the public.”