CE: Rail freight welcomed; no plans for full lockdown

HONG KONG - Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Wednesday said the reopening of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong cargo train route means a lot to Hong Kong in its fight against the pandemic.

Lam made the remarks to the press at Lo Wu upon the arrival of the first cargo train loaded with nearly 1 million rapid antigen test kits, 20,000 protective suits, and other medical supplies.

The arrival of the train also marks the reopening of the cross-border freight train service from Shenzhen to Hong Kong after it was halted over a decade ago. Opened in 1962, the route was established to ensure the timely delivery of fresh food supplies, such as pigs, cattle and sheep, but ceased to operate as road transportation became the preferred means to deliver all fresh cargo to Hong Kong in 2007.

Lam thanked the central government, Guangdong provincial and Shenzhen municipal governments for their support over the past two years in ensuring the supply of food and commodities to the city.

The 9-carriage train, carrying 18 containers, may not boost the city's supply significantly, but it plays a beneficial role in helping the city maintain a stable supply. In addition, water routes were also opened earlier to replenish dwindling supplies which resulted from a cohort of cross-border truck drivers having tested positive for COVID-19 lately.

Stressing supplies of food and goods to the city remain sufficient, Lam appealed to the public to remain calm in face of the pandemic, and not to stockpile.

A major concern in fighting the pandemic is public scaremongering, which could give rise to panic buying, Lam said.

Lam cautioned the public against trusting or spreading false information or rumors online, and said the government will make information about the supply of fresh food and medicines public on a daily basis.

With the staunch support of the central government, Hong Kong will be able to organize a universal testing program this month in order to achieve "dynamic zero infection", Lam said.

While rejecting the need for a full lockdown of the city, Lam did say there must be some restrictions in place to prevent residents from freely circulating around the city during the mass testing.

The government will give due consideration to resident's daily needs in conditions where restrictions may be in place for the mass testing program, she stressed.