Hong Kong’s second-largest teachers’ union warned today that many schools are facing difficulties stocking up on masks and infrared thermometers, ahead of a possible class resumption next month. The Federation of Education Workers, said while schools have received subsidies of up to HK$25,000 from the government to buy protective equipment, they are still unable to purchase masks in bulk because of red tape. The union’s vice chairman, Tang Fei, explained that suppliers were asking for such high prices that they breach procurement regulations. “According to the Education Bureau’s [procurement] procedures, most of the school authorities cannot purchase face masks [at such high prices]”, he said. “This is a real difficulty.”The federation said it will give away around 150,000 masks it has purchased to local schools and teachers, to try to alleviate the shortage.

Source: The Standard March 12, 2020 08:31 UTC