DDHK.ORG - It is the second time that the Hong Kong Government will distribute free masks, CuMask, to its citizens. The Bureau of Innovation & Technology on Friday (11/9/2020) announced that adult-sized masks will be distributed to eligible citizens starting Monday (14 // 9/2020) tomorrow.
"Those who register online from 6 May to 6 June will get a second mask, if they have given approval to the Government to use registration data for distribution of other masks and have received the first mask sent by the Hongkong Post," wrote the official website of the Government. Hong Kong, news.gov.hk.
The main registrant will receive an SMS message before sending. Hongkong Post will send the mask to the registered address within three working days after the SMS is sent.
If there is an independent mailbox of sufficient size, a mask will be placed inside. If not, it will be sent to the door of the residence.
“After completing the Hong Kong Post's second round of deliveries, those who have not obtained the masks can either collect them at the designated collection point directly or authorize someone else to do so on their behalf from early October. The details will be announced later, ”wrote the Government.
CuMask was developed by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles & Apparel (HKRITA). The Bureau of Innovation & Technology said that prior to the first round of distribution, the masks had undergone testing by an internationally accredited laboratory.
It has been confirmed that the masks comply with the standards of the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) F2100 Level 1 in terms of Particle Filtration Efficiency (PFE), Bacteria Filtration Efficiency (BFE), resistance to penetration of synthetic blood, flammability, pressure resistance, and can reused up to 60 times.
In addition, the bureau also provided CuMask to Nelson Laboratories, LLC in the US for further testing. The results, showing that the quality of the masks still met relevant international standards in terms of PFE and BFE before washing and after washing 40 and 60 times, confirmed again that these masks were sufficient for people's daily protection.
Indonesian Citizen Appreciation
This policy of giving away technological masks for free was welcomed by Indonesians in Hong Kong. Wina, one of the Indonesian migrant workers in Indonesia, assessed that the distribution of free masks from the Hong Kong Government is very helpful, especially for workers who do not get them free from their employers.
"Most of us have to buy masks using our own money. That is very burdensome, "he said.
Evidently, he said, at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, many Indonesian migrant workers were willing to queue long to get free disposable masks. "Moreover, the masks from the Hong Kong government can be washed and reused. Of course it's very helpful, "said Wina.
Wina admitted, in the first period of distributing free masks she also got them, after being registered online by her employer.
The same thing was expressed by Ahmad Ghozali, one of the staff of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong. "Of course I am very grateful and a lot of gratitude to the Hong Kong Government who cares deeply for all its citizens, the important thing is to have a Hong Kong ID," he said.
"Moreover, we, Indonesian citizens, are still treated the same, without favoritism. Once again, I am very grateful and grateful to the Hong Kong Government, ”said the man from Madiun, East Java. [DDHK. ORG]
