![](\"https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2020/05/20200506/20200506_195305_550/images/20200506211348060.jpg\"/)
Chief Executive Carrie Lam inspected one of the CuMask production sites in Tsuen Wan today and expressed gratitude to those manufacturing the reusable masks for Hong Kong residents to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.
She chatted with the staff and noted that many of them are retired textile industry workers who have re-joined the production workforce to combat the virus.
Mrs Lam praised them for their commitment to serving the community and thanked them for their hard work.
The masks produced in the workshop will be delivered to a clean workspace for sterilising with ozone and packing before distribution. There is no need to wash the mask before it is used for the first time.
In the face of the tight supply of masks amid the epidemic, the Government set aside funds to subsidise projects on technology applications of reusable masks under the first round of the Anti-epidemic Fund.
The CuMask complies with the American Society for Testing & Materials F2100 Level 1 standard and can be washed up to 60 times. It can also be used for a longer period after replacing the filter.
Mrs Lam said she is pleased to note that CuMask is well received by the public and the registration process has been very smooth.
“CuMask is a home-grown scientific research achievement with local application. The whole process has involved co-operation between the Government, industry, academia and the research sector and is an outstanding example of the use of technology to improve people’s lives.
“It will also help solve the problem of the supply of face masks during an epidemic in the long run. I highly commend all the people who have participated in the relevant work and I am fully confident in the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong.”
Mrs Lam appealed to the public to make use of the registration quota of up to six people to minimise delivery resources and enhance efficiency.
She added that relevant departments will deliver the masks as soon as possible.
","contentSnippet":"Chief Executive Carrie Lam inspected one of the CuMask production sites in Tsuen Wan today and expressed gratitude to th","publishedDate":"2020-05-05T16:00:00.000Z","categories":[],"author":""},{"title":"ID card replacement to resume","link":"https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2020/05/20200506/20200506_194121_830.html","content":"![](\"https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2020/05/20200506/20200506_194121_830/images/20200506195118771.jpg\"/)
The Immigration Department announced today that the operation of all nine Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres will be fully resumed on May 11 in light of the more stabilised epidemic situation.
The department earlier suspended the replacement of Hong Kong identity cards at the centres to avoid the increased risk of spreading COVID-19.
To arrange for people affected by the service suspension to replace their identity cards in an orderly manner, the Secretary for Security has made an amendment order to revise the replacement period for people born in 1957 to 1963 and 1970 to 1976 and the arrangement for members of the sixth term of District Councils.
Click here for the arrangements.
If the replacement of identity cards needs to be suspended again in the future to cope with a sudden turn of the epidemic situation, the amendment order also provides that if all the centres are not in service for a period of 21 working days or more from May 11 to July 27 for public health reasons, the specified period for the above people will be further extended or amended.
The amendment order will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 13 for negative vetting.
To reduce crowd gatherings, applicants who have not made appointments previously should do so via the Internet, the department’s mobile application or the 24-hour hotline at 2121 1234.
The department also appealed to applicants to pre-fill the application form when making appointments through the Internet or mobile application.
For details click here or call 2824 6111.
","contentSnippet":"The Immigration Department announced today that the operation of all nine Smart Identity Card Replacement Centres will b","publishedDate":"2020-05-05T16:00:00.000Z","categories":[],"author":""},{"title":"Coach drivers scheme opens","link":"https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2020/05/20200506/20200506_185621_397.html","content":"![](\"https://www.news.gov.hk/chi/2020/05/20200506/20200506_185621_397/images/20200506191754613.jpg\"/)
The Tour Service Coach Drivers (Mainly Serving Tourists) Support Scheme, under the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund, is open for applications from today to June 5, the Government announced.
The scheme will provide each tour service coach driver with a one-off subsidy of $10,000 and aims to benefit about 9,300 drivers.
In addition, the Government explained that the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fund includes other tourism industry support measures.
Applications for the Hotel Sector Support Scheme are being accepted until May 18, while the deadline to apply for the Travel Agents & Practitioners Support Scheme is June 15.
Click here for more details.
","contentSnippet":"The Tour Service Coach Drivers (Mainly Serving Tourists) Support Scheme, under the second round of the Anti-epidemic Fun","publishedDate":"2020-05-05T16:00:00.000Z","categories":[],"author":""}]}}});