Businesses heed Luo Huining’s call for unity, action

The head of Beijing’s liaison office, Luo Huining, said on Friday that confidence, unity, and action are key in the fight against Covid in Hong Kong, as major business leaders pledged to rally resources and join in the anti-epidemic effort.

In a video conference with business leaders, Luo said President Xi Jinping’s recent instruction for Hong Kong to bring the coronavirus situation under control reflects the central government’s support for the SAR.

Luo added that the liaison office stands fully behind local authorities.

“In the fight against the pandemic, the most precious thing is confidence, the most important quality is unity, and what’s needed the most is action,” he said.

“Hong Kong is our home, and as long as we help each other – and bravely ride through the tough times together, we can definitely win this battle against the pandemic.”

Also at the meeting was Chief Secretary John Lee, who thanked the central government for its support and promised that the SAR will do its utmost to fight the coronavirus.

During the 30-minute conference, the heads of some of the biggest companies in the city put forward a slew of initiatives, including stepping up the supply of rapid antigen tests for those on low incomes and frontline hospital staff, and shipping more goods into Hong Kong.

New World Development CEO Adrian Cheng promised to free up the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for community testing purposes, while Peter Lee, co-chairman of Henderson Land Development, said he’s willing to offer a two-million-square-foot site near Lam Tsuen for the government to build a makeshift hospital.

Popular boyband Mirror will be appointed “anti-epidemic ambassadors”, according to Pacific Century Group chairman Richard Li.

Li said the 12-member group will film videos aimed at encouraging the public to stay at home and fight the virus.

Li’s brother Victor, chairman and managing director of CK Asset Holdings, pulled out of the meeting after falling ill. A statement citing a copy of the speech he was meant to give said the company will offer more than 3,000 rooms in four of its hotels as isolation facilities to house Covid patients.

Victor Li has undergone Covid tests after reporting symptoms such as coughing and hoarseness, and was staying at home awaiting the results.

The virtual meeting came as four mainland epidemiological experts met local authorities for the first time during a five-day visit to the SAR.

The experts will assist Hong Kong in conducting epidemiological investigations.