Seven virus-testing experts from the Chinese mainland arrived in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday afternoon, the first batch of mainland support teams to help tackle a worsening spread of COVID-19.

The experts are among 60 professionals selected by the health commission of south China's Guangdong Province from over 20 public hospitals. 

The medical professionals will help with laboratory work in Hong Kong.

The advance team was received by officials and local representatives at a hotel on Sunday afternoon. Qiu Hong, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and Sophia Chan, secretary for food and health of the HKSAR, were among the officials who welcomed the experts.

The arrival of the advance team, according to Qiu, indicates the close attention the central government is paying to the HKSAR. The central government strongly backs Hong Kong residents, said Qiu, before expressing hope all residents will unite and overcome the difficult time together.

The HKSAR government expressed its gratitude to the central government for its proactive response to its request for support and the speedy formation of the team, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said in a statement late Sunday.

The spokesperson also denied rumors that the HKSAR government was transporting the DNA data of Hong Kong residents to the Chinese mainland during virus testing, saying the claims are "absolutely unfounded."

"The central government's support aims at enhancing the virus testing capacity. All virus testing will only be conducted in Hong Kong, samples of which will not be transported to the mainland for testing," read the statement.

The spokesperson condemned the deliberate spreading of false information, warned the acts could constitute criminal offences and stated that the relevant government departments will study the matter carefully and collect evidence.

Some local residents also expressed gratitude for the help from the mainland by waving the Chinese national flag and the flag of the HKSAR, as well as by showing supportive posters on the streets.

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Hong Kong's first COVID-19 temporary hospital starts operation

The National Health Commission (NHC) announced on Saturday it had established several support teams to carry out nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 at the request of the HKSAR government.

The group of mainland professionals is the first dispatched by the central government to help HKSAR's fight against COVID-19.

The NHC has also promised to assemble mainland medical resources and provide more support at the request of the HKSAR.

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NHC experts to go to Hong Kong to help with COVID-19 testing

The Asian financial hub has seen cases spike since early July, and its total confirmed cases have mounted to over 3,500 since the pandemic began. 

In an attempt to rein in the epidemic, a COVID-19 temporary hospital started operation on August 1 in Hong Kong.

The temporary hospital, located in the venue housing the Asia World-Expo, mainly treats coronavirus patients aged 18-60. 

The 500-bed facility provides 24-hour medical services, lung X-rays and blood tests.