Hong Kong’s leader promised that China’s central government will supply the city with COVID-19 vaccines and hinted that large-scale universal community testing could soon return.

In her Wednesday policy address, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Beijing will “reserve a certain amount of vaccines developed or produced in the Mainland for use by Hong Kong people when necessary.” It is still unclear how many vaccines might be provided, a government source said.

With Hong Kong now facing a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, Lam said the city might implement large-scale universal community testing again to “achieve the target of zero infection.”

Lam said that the government’s anti-epidemic decisions were made based on science, expert advice and the information available at the time, adding that “political considerations have never come into play.”

Hong Kong on Wednesday recorded 85 confirmed cases — the highest figure since early August — with all but one originating locally. Of the new local cases, 63 were related to a dance club infection cluster, while another 16 could not be traced. There was also one imported case from the U.K.

The community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo has reopened, with 27 patients currently receiving care and an additional 40 patients to be transferred there, said Linda Yu, chief manager of clinical effectiveness for the Hospital Authority.

Separately, the chief executive announced in her policy address that the government will direct HK$300 million (US$38.7 million) under the Beat Drugs Fund to “better support the needy in the community and raise public awareness of mental health.”

Lam said the initiative was in response to the mental-health impact brought about by the pandemic and the social unrest that has embroiled the city since last year.

A government source said that research from the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong showed that some in the city are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues. However, no details about the spending plan have been disclosed so far.

Former lawmaker Joseph Lee, who represented the health services sector, told Apple Daily that the program was “hot air,” criticizing it for its lack of content.

The Hong Kong government should instead direct resources to shore up the public health system, such as by providing more support to frontline medical professionals, Lee said.

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