The new crown pneumonia caused Hong Kong people to experience three years of anti-epidemic years. At the beginning of the epidemic, there was an extreme shortage of medical supplies around the world, and citizens were exhausted wearing masks. The Hong Kong government spent more than 34 million yuan in public funds to encourage and subsidize 15 local companies to supply regarding 470 million masks for emergency response within a year. However, in the post-epidemic era, the demand has dropped sharply, and the government has exhausted its resources. Mask factories cannot escape the end of disposable masks. Only two companies that received funding are still operating. The World Health Organization and many experts have predicted and warned that the epidemic may come once more. Members believe that Hong Kong must reserve sufficient supplies to prevent problems before they happen. At the same time, in the name of the free market, the living space of “Made in Hong Kong” is ignored and killed. If the epidemic comes back, the history of mask shortage will repeat itself.
The supply of masks in Hong Kong used to rely on imports. In order to relieve the urgent need at the beginning of the epidemic, the government spent 800 million yuan to distribute reusable “copper core masks” to the public; it also launched the “Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme” under the “Anti-epidemic Fund” , 15 companies quickly established 20 production lines, and can directly supply masks to the Hong Kong government without bidding, for a period of 12 months until the end of June 2021. However, Hu Cui-ting, chairman of the Hong Kong Mask and Anti-epidemic Equipment Association, said that there are only two participating companies that will not close in the next year, one of which has medical institution customers and other medical supplies business, and the rest have already decided to go, or are already funding After the completion, they “handled the hat”, most of the factories were sold, and the machines were resold to other factories.
Weixin Technology is one of the remaining companies. The operator Tang Xun said that the company originally set up 3 garment factories in the mainland, and the workers needed 3,000 masks a day. At the beginning of the epidemic, it was difficult to purchase masks for the factories. Seeing that the Hong Kong government launched a subsidy plan Immediately felt that “it hit it off”, and decided to set up a factory in Hong Kong. At its peak, the monthly output reached 4 million masks, including 2 million for the government.
As a supplier in Hong Kong, Ningshi expresses emotion
After the completion of the project, he also hopes to continue to supply masks to the government. However, he failed to bid two or three times. Law enforcement agencies have also asked for quotations. Production has been reduced by 600,000 to 1.2 million. Customers include non-governmental organizations and large enterprises, and they have also transformed into production of anti-epidemic products. They only guarantee that they will not close the business within one year.
Zhang Chonggao, another mask factory operator, revealed that the Hong Kong government had publicly called for 50 million masks the year before last, and a large mainland company was shortlisted. The price was 0.3 yuan a piece, shipping included. The factory can produce masks on a large scale, with a monthly output of 200 million. . On the contrary, the monthly output and sales volume of local factories are not more than 2 million, and the cost of most of them is 0.6 yuan per piece.
According to a person familiar with the matter, a local company once bid for the Hospital Authority at a price lower than the cost in order to successfully win the bid. , making the industry sigh with emotion.
It is difficult to supervise the quality of foreign factories, and the quality may be worrying
The “Supply of Materials and Procurement Regulations” stipulates that if the government purchases goods with a value of more than $1.4 million, it must adopt an open bidding process to obtain the most economically efficient tender, which is commonly known as “the lowest bidder wins”. Councilor Chen Kaixin said that the procurement method involves the policy level, and the Hong Kong government often has established procedures and is “too lazy to change”. The low price seems to be in line with economic benefits, but foreign factories are difficult to supervise. “It is easier for local factories to inspect the hygiene and quality Why don’t you explain that you need to try on-site when buying shirts?” Now that there are local production lines, the authorities should support them to continue to become local suppliers of medical consumables.
Even if the epidemic is over, she believes that departments and institutions such as the Department of Health, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and the Hospital Authority will still have a certain demand for masks. If local procurement can be prioritized, this industry can be sustained. “Hong Kong will always have its own masks!” She said, if “no monks are needed following fasting”, they will return to their original shape following overcoming the new crown pneumonia. There is no policy to prevent local factories Disappearance will damage the public interest, plant a bomb for the future, and dig a well when something happens once more. Liang Zichao, a specialist in respiratory system, said that the epidemic will always come once more, and the government needs to prepare for it. “If you haven’t experienced it, you don’t know you have to prepare. There is a shortage of masks in the new crown, but following the experience and wisdom, there will be no shortage of supplies.”
The Government Logistics Department is responsible for the procurement of masks by the Hong Kong government. As of the end of February, the department had a stock of regarding 38.1 million masks, and has set aside regarding 51.2 million yuan to purchase emergency and necessary items such as masks. This newspaper inquired regarding the department’s annual mask demand, purchase volume, the ratio of local and overseas purchases, and whether it will give priority to local procurement, but the department only said that it has signed a “stand-by contract” with qualified suppliers and can purchase according to actual needs Masks required.
This newspaper also asked the Hospital Authority whether it would give priority to purchasing local masks in the future. The authority did not give a positive response. It only said that more local mask manufacturers that meet the specifications are welcome to enter the market, which will help stabilize the supply of masks in Hong Kong and increase market competition.Reporter Hong Zhiqing
