HK starts mass virus tests undermined by distrust of China

HONG KONG AFP, 1 Sept, 2020 - Hong Kong launched a mass coronavirus testing scheme on Tuesday, but calls for millions to take up the offer have been undermined by deep distrust of the government following China’s crushing of the city’s democracy movement.   

The free voluntary tests are part of an attempt to stamp out a third wave of infections that began in late June and saw the densely populated city reimpose economically painful social distancing measures.   

But the programme has been hampered by a limited response due to the involvement of mainland Chinese testing firms and doctors -- and swirling public fears of the harvesting of data and DNA as Beijing cracks down on calls for democratic reform.   

Since registration began on Saturday, 650,000 people have signed up -- around nine percent of the city’s 7.5 million population.   

Some 80,000 people were tested on the first day, authorities said, including government ministers.