Coronavirus: Hong Kong government stops receiving applications for mask production
- It approves six more production lines from five firms under a HK$1.5 billion subsidy to deal with a supply shortage of the protective gear
- The new units will deliver 10 million masks to the government every month, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau says
Together with the two units approved earlier for a monthly production of 3 million masks, the new batch of successful applicants brings the total of approved production lines to eight, by seven firms. The new units will deliver a total of 10 million masks to the government every month, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said on Friday.
It said as the HK$1.5 billion subsidy was meant for only 20 slots, there remained a quota of another 12 production lines.
As of Thursday, the scheme attracted 103 applications, four of which had met the eligibility criteria for five production lines. Some 69 applications did not make the mark, while 23 were being verified.
Hong Kong is facing a second wave of surge in Covid-19 with residents returning from overseas. As of Friday noon, the city recorded more than 450 cases of infection, with four fatalities. Supply of the protective gear has remained tight.