Grassroots heroes aid HK's pandemic fight

Express routes

Several cities in Guangdong, including the provincial capital Guangzhou, Qingyuan and Shenzhen, have opened dedicated water express routes to stabilize supplies to Hong Kong.

The constant flow of supplies to the city by rail, road and water is due to the hard work of people in different industries and cities. Many mainland companies have adjusted their manufacturing schedules to meet the urgent demand in Hong Kong.

In just two weeks or so, the mainland delivered more than 20 million self-testing kits, about 400,000 boxes of traditional Chinese medicines, more than 38,000 metric tons of vegetables, 30,000 pigs and 40 million face masks to Hong Kong. Countless extra working hours are being put in.

In addition to the central government's support in building treatment facilities and sending medical workers to Hong Kong, individuals and small private companies are offering assistance.

Industry groups and enterprises are either pulling strings to gather a range of material, or simply doing their best to make a contribution to support Hong Kong.

Shenzhen Microprofit Biotech Co is one of dozens of mainland companies producing testing kits to bolster the fight against COVID-19. The company has donated millions of these kits to Hong Kong.

General manager Tang Sheng said that as the pandemic in the city intensified, the company decided to suspend orders with overseas clients and switch its production lines to meet the urgent and soaring demand.

Last month, the company started to prepare product instructions and guidance videos in Cantonese. As of March 9, it had delivered 11 million testing kits to Hong Kong. It is operating day and night seven days a week to supply about half a million kits per day to the city's online and offline retailers.

"To guarantee maximum output, last year we hired some 300 additional workers, doubling the staff numbers, with wages 20 percent to 30 percent higher," Tang said.

However, the company keeps its prices for Hong Kong retailers to a minimum－with priority given to providing sufficient medical products for local residents. The kits, which cost about HK$10 to HK$15 ($1.28 to $1.92) have been well received by the local market.

Mainland producers are providing millions of affordable testing kits to Hong Kong every day, but previously they cost about HK$245 each－a heavy burden for residents and the local government.

"After dozens of mainland manufacturers entered the market, the price fell to less than HK$50," Tang said, adding that the kits were treated as "anti-pandemic necessities" instead of "commodities."

"Although we are just a small medical company and our total output is limited, we are trying our best to contribute as much as possible to help Hong Kong," he said.

Faced with rising demand, manufacturers of anti-pandemic materials quickly increased output and spent more on production lines and labor.

Shenzhen banks, encouraged by the People's Bank of China, customized loans and accelerated cross-border settlements for these enterprises to support Hong Kong's battle against the pandemic.

Prompt delivery of medical supplies was assured as customs authorities set up consultation hotlines to quickly handle inquiries from import and export companies. "Green channels" and special counters were also introduced to improve customs clearance for medical supplies to Hong Kong.