Eleven HK people pull out of Hubei evacuation flight

Eleven HK people pull out of Hubei evacuation flight

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Patrick Nip said on Wednesday that 11 Hong Kong people in Hubei have changed their minds and decided not to take the chartered flights back to the SAR, citing concerns about a health risk and family arrangements.



This comes as officials admitted that some of the evacuees could be infected but not showing any symptoms. All people being flown back are to be housed in a quarantine centre for two weeks.



A total of 258 Hong Kong people, including 14 pregnant woman and four students who are to take upcoming DSE exams, will be returning to the SAR by Wednesday evening on the free flights arranged by the government, said Nip.



The secretary is heading a team of around 40 immigration and health officials to the province's capital, Wuhan, to assist with the mission.



Speaking before their departure at Hong Kong airport, Nip said people due to get on the planes will undergo temperature checks four times – when they leave home, arrive at Wuhan airport, at immigration control, and just before boarding the plane.



But the secretary admitted this alone cannot rule out that some may test positive for the virus later.



Nip said he himself, along with the officials, do not need to be quarantined when they return. He said the decision was made after consulting health experts.



The officials will be wearing masks and protective gear throughout the mission and will mainly stay in the Wuhan airport area.



But to allay public concerns, he said he will avoid meeting the public for a while after his return from Wuhan.