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Coronavirus: mask production lines could be running within weeks, though Hong Kong firms seek aid beyond cash subsidies
- Six lines capable of producing a total of 10 million masks are expected to go online soon, with other private parties planning lines of their own
- Government help in securing factory space as well as quicker border clearance and certification among logistical help sought
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Hong Kong’s manufacturers say they will soon have the equipment necessary to produce 10 million medical masks a month from March – four times the government’s output – as the city continues to struggle with serious shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak.
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But they also are calling for government help that goes beyond the cash subsidies it has already pledged, including help with customs clearance, raw material sourcing and technical support.
A day after the government announced its HK$25 billion (US$3.2 billion) virus-aid package, which includes subsidies to support local mask production, several manufacturers say they need more than just cash.
The Post has learned that at least six production lines capable of producing 10 million masks a month could be up and running within weeks.
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While that amount may be dwarfed by Hong Kong’s estimated 300 million mask monthly demand, the organisations involved, a major pro-Beijing trade union among them, believe their efforts can make a serious contribution in the battle against the disease now known as Covid-19.
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