Vending machines distribute face masks to low-income families in Hong Kong

The project 'Mask To Go' will operate 37 vending machines to provide free surgical masks to low-income families. People can register to receive a contactless redemption card with a unique QR code.

Hong Kong:Self-service face mask vending machines have been installed across Hong Kong to dispense free masks to the city's inhabitants. Vending machines have emerged across Hong Kong to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

A new project called 'Mask To Go" has been rolled out across the city, with 37 vending machines installed in 17 different NGO buildings.

People can register to receive a contactless redemption card with a unique QR code.

Stanley Choy, a spokesperson for the Mask To Go project, explains the card allows the user to go to a designated vending machine to redeem a free pack containing five face masks once a week for ten consecutive weeks.

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"Since we were doing production in Hong Kong, we were thinking about how we can distribute wisely. Because since we have seen a lot of news that the underprivileged people or some elderly, they were lining up for hours but cannot get any reasonable-priced masks. So, we were thinking of an innovative way, how can we distribute in a more easy and user-friendly way. But what they would need to do, is just to register and we will give them a QR code card, they can continue for ten weeks to come and scan the code and can get the masks in a few seconds," explains Choy.

The smart-card system allows each NGO to monitor the refill of masks in the machine and enables them to work out how much stock is required.

The mask dispenser initiative was set up by Hong Kong property developer New World Development. New World Development has also set up its production line to manufacture medical face masks.

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Hong Kong has applied preventative measures learned during the SARS epidemic when trying to control the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Hong Kong people were among the first in the world to rush to buy face masks as early as January this year. The first panic in January continued into February with mask shortages, queues and high prices.

Since then, the situation has settled down for the time being, with Hong Kong controlling the spread of the virus so far and supplies of masks and other personal protective equipment back on the shelves. But it's still a worry for a lot of people because, despite the city's glistening skyscraper image, the majority of the population are living on low wages.

This project hopes to help 40,000 people between now and the end of July and will start operating across Hong Kong from May 25.

(AP)