Coronavirus: Hong Kong Correctional Services officers decry watchdog’s probe into handling of masks as ‘outrageous’
- Critics argue all government departments provided large numbers of masks should be probed on how the protective gear surfaced on market
- Federation of Civil Service chief says there are no guidelines in place for the storing of supplies at government offices
Five associations representing more than 8,000 Hong Kong correctional services officers are seeking a meeting with the city’s ombudsman, calling it “outrageous” their department is being investigated by the government watchdog over the handling of masks they produced amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
In an open letter issued by the Correctional Services Department’s (CSD) four workers’ groups and a retirement association, the officers said they were extremely disappointed that an investigation into how some masks had reached the private market was focused solely on the people who made them.
The face coverings, commonly known as CSI masks, are produced by inmates under the supervision of the CSD, then distributed among various government departments for internal use by the GLD.
Amid a dire shortage in Hong Kong last month, questions were raised after the masks surfaced on the private market.