Cao Sai. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
For nearly a month, Cao Sai, who heads the decorations project of the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital being built at Lok Ma Chau Loop, had to stay up until 2 am and get up at 6 am nearly every day. Despite the wind and rain, he always held his position, led the whole team, and saw the huge emergency hospital spring up from nothing during the past weeks.
On Thursday, the first phase of the facility, which was completed with support from the central government, was handed over to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and began operation.
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Since arriving in Hong Kong on March 15 and starting work the following day, Cao, who is also project manager of Southern China District at Shenzhen Overseas Decoration Co, led his team days and nights in the construction of the emergency hospital.
Earlier in February, when Cao learned that Hong Kong urgently needed help from the mainland, he came forward to join the battle against the coronavirus and drove overnight to Shenzhen from his hometown in Central China’s Hunan province.
During the past two years, Cao twice led teams in the construction of isolation hospitals and isolation wards as the coronavirus rattled the mainland. The Hong Kong project is the third time he has volunteered to stand on the front line of such a project. “Hong Kong compatriots are our family members. We shall lend a hand no matter how far we are,” he told China Daily.
More difficult than the two isolation facility projects Cao was involved with on the mainland, the Lok Ma Chau Loop project has had to be conducted under serious weather and traffic conditions.
Without enough equipment and supplies such as beds and tents in the early days, the entire construction team had to camp overnight in the open air. No matter how extreme the conditions were, Cao encouraged his young co-workers to face the difficulties without fear. “I told them it is a battle in peacetime — a battle against the virus,” he said.
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When a heavy rainstorm hit Lok Ma Chau Loop from March 20-25, Cao, taking charge of the team, transported the construction materials with their shoulders and hands in the storms.
“We need to march forward regardless of wind and rain so that our fellows can have a warm spring,” he said.
aoyulu@chinadailyhk.com