Coronavirus: Hongkongers’ online orders for masks cancelled as overseas suppliers report shortages
- Retailers based in US and across Asia are unable to fulfil online orders made in Hong Kong
- Government says 32 million masks will be bound for Hong Kong, but an academic says 300 million could be used per month in the city
Hongkongers struggling to buy surgical masks in the city to protect themselves against the Wuhan coronavirus have also had online orders cancelled, as overseas suppliers reported a lack of supply.
The scramble for masks in Hong Kong continued despite the government revealing on Thursday that more than 32 million of them would be available for public use.
Among those left disappointed by cancelled orders online were three district councillors who were hoping to supply thousands of the facial coverings to residents.
Two Tuen Mun district councillors, Theo Lam Ming-yan and Kino Lam Kin-cheung, said that before Lunar New Year they had ordered a consignment of 12,000 masks from the United States, via a Hong Kong distributor.
“We were told that the order had been cancelled because of insufficient supply,” Theo Lam said on Thursday, adding he would try other ways of sourcing the items.
