Hong Kong cheers for medical staff with applauses, harbour light show in COVID-19 fight

APD NEWS

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Many Hong Kong residents took part in "Clap for HK" activity while buildings along the Victoria Harbor were illuminated with special lighting Friday night to pay tribute to medical staff at the front-line in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Various departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government including the Health Department and the Hong Kong Police Forces posted videos on their social media accounts showing their staff clapping for the efforts of medical staff in fighting against the COVID-19.

"Let us give a big round of applause to all healthcare personnel for their tremendous effort in safeguarding our community! Stand together, and we shall prevail over this tough battle against the pandemic!" the Hong Kong Police said on its Facebook page.

In video clips posted by netizens, applause lasting for more than one minute was also heard out of different residential buildings across Hong Kong.

At 7:30 p.m. local time, lights were turned on synchronously on the exterior walls of buildings on both sides of the Victoria Harbor, displaying slogans such as "salute to medical staff sticking to their posts", "together we fight the virus," and "medical staff stay at work, we stay at home".

Initiator of the activity, Convener of Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link Bunny Chan said the special light show, to be on for half an hour on both Friday and Saturday, aimed to cheer for the medical staff as well as to appeal on members of the public to help relieve pressure on the medical staff by maintaining social distancing.

As of 4 p.m. Friday local time, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong rose to 845, according to the Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

(CGTN)