Free face-mask vending machines to be installed across Hong Kong

Enlisting the help of eight NGOs, a Hong Kong business tycoon is aiming to provide ten million face masks for free across the eighteen districts

Spotted: A new initiative launched by business tycoon, Adrian Cheng, will provide residents of Hong Kong with millions of free medical-grade face masks. Naming the project “Mask to Go”, its aim is to provide masks to the most vulnerable in the community. Cheng has enlisted the help of eight NGOs to distribute the face masks, who will fill and oversee 35 vending machines that will be installed across the eighteen Hong Kong districts.

The property development company, New World Development, of which Cheng is vice chairman and general manager, is manufacturing all the equipment. The 4,000 square foot factory in Tuen Mun is capable of producing 200,00 masks a day. Preregistered “smart” redemption cards will be distributed to residents, which will make them eligible for a pack of five masks from the machine every week over a ten-week period. The cards are to prevent long queues and to make sure people are complying to social distancing measures.

Cheng announced the project on his Instagram account on 6th April, as his teams have been working tirelessly to produce high-quality medical face masks. He wrote: “I’m so proud of the dedication and effort our teams have put into this program. I also appreciate very much the positive feedback that we have received from the public so far regarding this initiative, which I hope will prompt others to join us in our effort.”

The masks will be made available later this month.

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