Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media session with the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui after inspecting the compulsory testing in the specified "restricted area" in Jordan this morning (January 24):
Reporter: So, we know that some residents left among other reasons they didn't have legal residency in Hong Kong, could this been have avoided if the testing is not linked to legal residency? And can you clarify how testing has anything to do with immigration and residency status?
And also the lockdown is extended, will the government compensate workers who have to work on Monday morning? And are you providing hot meals to the elderly?
Chief Secretary for Administration: First of all, on the question on whether we are confident of lifting the restrictions by 6 o'clock in the morning tomorrow, on the basis of what is happening now, we have confidence that we should be able to do it because we have already done screening for 7 000 people yesterday in terms of testing. I think the number coming out today will be relatively small, so the left can handle them, before close of play tonight, so we are pretty certain that given this development, we can lift the restrictions as it were by 6 o'clock tomorrow. Now, the screening and the testing apply to everybody, everyone is welcome to do it. Health comes first.
Secretary for Home Affairs: I just want to supplement the other point earlier you enquired about meal delivery service. As you know in Hong Kong, we do have meal services for the needy, special needs and the elderly. During this operation, we do provide such service and also, we do have service hotlines including one for the ethnic minorities as well. For special cases, we would be on the ground to handle them. So basically we try to accommodate them as best as we can. We try to shorten as well the operation so we can allow people to go back to their normal lives as soon as possible. Thank you.
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