IT bureau hunts for materials for reusable masks

Nicholas Yang says authorities are sourcing raw materials for the production of reusable face masks. Photo: RTHK

The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Nicholas Yang, said on Saturday that his bureau was pushing ahead with a plan to develop reusable face masks, and he hoped the products could be made available before the coronavirus epidemic comes to an end.



The bureau had been given HK$800 million to develop reusable face masks amid a shortage of the protective gear.



Speaking on an RTHK programme, Yang said authorities already had a design for the masks.



“We’ve bought the raw materials. But we can’t be sure whether they would be delivered on time,” he said.



He said they would also need to devise testing standards.



“It’s a new product, so there isn’t a testing standard. We have to devise testing standards and engage a third party to confirm the standards are okay,” he said.



The government has also allocated HK$1.5 billion for the private sector to manufacture face masks.