Fears China seeking to collect DNA hamper mass Covid testing

Issued on: 01/09/2020 ࢀ" 18:33 Hong Kong began a vast Covid-19 testing programme on Tuesday, September 1, which authorities say is necessary to control the virus. But calls for millions of Hong Kong citizens to undergo testing have fallen flat amid fears China is secretly using the scheme to collect DNA and other information of participants. Around 10,000 people underwent the free and voluntary tests on the first day of the campaign, including Hong Kong leader Chief Executive Carrie Lam. But amid an increasingly severe crackdown on Hong Kongࢀ™s pro-democracy movement by Beijing, the direct involvement of mainland Chinese firms…