Full support for HK contagion fight assured

Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday the central government has been closely following the pandemic situation in Hong Kong, and is deeply concerned about the health and safety of Hong Kong residents.

Li, who made the remark at a news conference following the conclusion of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress, said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should take on its primary responsibility to fight the pandemic, and the central government will lend full support to it.

Li said he fully understands and supports the Hong Kong SAR government in postponing the election of its new chief executive and concentrating on combating the COVID-19 outbreak.

China will continue to implement fully, accurately and firmly the policy of "one country, two systems", under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy, Li said, adding that the change of the Hong Kong SAR government will be conducted in strict accordance with the Basic Law.

The premier also said he hopes the Hong Kong SAR government will unite and lead people in Hong Kong to continue the city's growth, improve its residents' lives, consolidate and enhance its status as a center of international finance, trade and shipping.

Speaking at a daily news conference on Friday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said Hong Kong will ramp up measures to boost vaccinations among the elderly and children.

She said the city has been working hard to push vaccination rates. She said about 90 percent of deaths of seniors reported during the current wave of infections involved those who had only received one vaccine dose, or none at all.

Zeng Xinlan in Hong Kong contributed to this story.