On the shortage of face masks, Lam said the SAR government had received 17 million face masks from mainland suppliers and placed orders for another 48 million from various oversea suppliers. Three million face masks have been delivered to the city, she said, adding that the global shortage of face masks and tightening export policy of some countries have made sourcing difficult.

Meanwhile, Lam said that the Lo Wu Correction Institution, which is a major local face masks producer, was set to boost its monthly output to 2.5 million from 1.8 million, thanks to the 800 volunteers who have joined the production line.

Lam said an additional 700,000 face masks will be given freely to government outsourced cleaners.

Lam said the government's stock of face mask, sufficient for one-month use, would be distributed first to frontline personnel, including medical workers and those officers manning the immigration and customs checkpoints.

Lam thanked the central government and the Guangdong provincial authorities for their support in temporarily suspending the issuance of tourist visas for visiting Hong Kong.

Guangdong also has stopped accepting business visa applications, Lam added.

Moreover, Lam thanked Guangdong border officers for persuading residents who had already obtained valid visas not to travel to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Department of Health has set up hotlines for Hong Kong residents stranded in Hubei province to seek medical assistance. The SAR government has sent the first batch of medicine to some Hong Kong chronic patients in Hubei.

Lam said that people should try to avoid unnecessary social contacts and going to crowded places.

She also appealed to people who have ties with face masks suppliers to share the information with the government or donate some masks that they have bought.