Home up for grabs in Hong Kong vaccination lucky draw

Hong Kong property giants announced on Friday they will sponsor a lucky draw for a brand new 42 sq meter one-bedroom flat worth US$1.4 million to encourage the public to get vaccinated.

CAPE TOWN, May 31 (ANA) – Hong Kong property giants announced on Friday that they will sponsor a lucky draw for a brand-new 42-sq-metre one-bedroom flat worth US$1.4 million, to encourage the public to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), the apartment is situated at the Grand Central project in Kwun Tong and the sponsors will donate 20 additional prizes with a prepaid or credit card value of US$12,885 each to permanent and non-permanent residents holding a Hong Kong employment visa.

The government has turned to businesses to help motivate hesitant residents to get the vaccine in their bid to reach their target of vaccinating 70% of the population.

Daryl Ng, director of Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation Limited, released a statement on the Sino Group property company’s website saying that only Hong Kong residents holding a valid permanent identity card will be eligible to enter the lucky draw.

“We hope the city’s total vaccination rate can be increased,” said Daryl Ng.

“Vaccination is an important step in our fight against the pandemic, and to protect ourselves, our loved ones, our friends and colleagues,” he said.

The BBC reported last week that Hong Kong has around two million Pfizer shots which are set to expire in three months’ time and that less than 20% of the residents have received a jab.

The city bought two batches of 7.5 million doses of Pfizer and China’s Sinovac, but distrust in the government and misinformation online has led to hesitancy in taking the vaccine.

“They cannot be used after the expiry date and the community vaccination centres for BioNTech will, according to present plans, cease operating after September,” former controller of the Centre for Health Protection, Thomas Tsang, told RTHK radio.

Some officials suggested that they export the unused vaccines to countries in need before they expire.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher