Hong Kong fourth wave: city’s pro-Beijing politicians to get mainland Covid-19 jab this week, ahead of major political gatherings in the capital
- Some 200 members of the political bloc are bound for Shenzhen on Friday for first of two Sinopharm doses
- Those attending annual sessions of China’s legislature and its top advisory body are eligible, while city’s vaccination scheme is not expected until mid-February at the earliest
About 200 pro-Beijing politicians from Hong Kong are set to travel to mainland China on Friday for a Covid-19 vaccination, the Post has learned, weeks before the city’s most vulnerable residents are expected to start receiving jabs.
Authorities over the border are offering Sinopharm doses to the politicians as part of the pandemic precautions for the plenary sessions of China’s legislature and its top advisory body in March.
Those to be vaccinated in Shenzhen include the 36 local delegates to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and some 200 members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
About 140 of them were tested for the coronavirus on Wednesday afternoon at the offices of the pro-Beijing Friends of Hong Kong Association, under the mainland bid to avoid the spread of infection at two of China’s major political gatherings.
Among those tested were CPPCC delegates Dr Ko Wing-man, Andy Tsang Wai-hung and Charles Ho Tsu-kwok, and NPC deputy Bernard Chan.
Also screened was NPC deputy Maria Tam Wai-chu, who is now a vice-chairwoman of the Basic Law Committee which advises the Chinese legislatures on matters related to Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
Asked about the vaccination plan, Tam declined to comment on whether the deputies were involved, but said the testing element was part of mainland authorities’ strict measures against Covid-19.
“Thousands of delegates will be gathering at the Great Hall of the People in March … So this is a chance for us to get well prepared ahead of the meetings,” she said.