Wuhan pneumonia outbreak: Hong Kong seeking more powers to tackle mystery flu

Compulsory notification, right to quarantine among changes; residents snap up N95 masks

A photo taken on Jan 4, 2020, shows health surveillance officers guiding travellers at Hong Kong's international airport.
A photo taken on Jan 4, 2020, shows health surveillance officers guiding travellers at Hong Kong's international airport.PHOTO: AP
Hong Kong Correspondent
  • Updated
    Jan 14, 2020, 12:00 pm
  • Published
    Jan 8, 2020, 5:00 am SGT
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The Hong Kong authorities are seeking more power, including compulsory notification and the right to quarantine, to deal with the mystery flu originating from Wuhan, as people rush to snap up N95 masks - a development reminiscent of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak in 2003.

The Department of Health on Tuesday said it would gazette a Bill to amend the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance today.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 08, 2020, with the headline 'HK seeking more powers to tackle mystery flu'. Subscribe
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