The Chinese festival is when people pay their respects to their ancestors and deceased family members.

It is saddening that over 8,000 deaths, of which more than 90 per cent are elderly people aged 65 or above, have been recorded to date amid the current wave, said Lam who paid her respects on behalf of the Hong Kong government.

"The first three months of 2022 have just passed, when Hong Kong has been facing the most severe situation since the global outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic in early 2020. The epidemic situation has caused anxiety and sorrow to members of the public who have lost their loved ones,” Lam said.

“The HKSAR Government will spare no effort in working in unity with all sectors of society and leveraging the staunch support of the Central Government to stabilize the epidemic as soon as possible."

Earlier on Tuesday, a video jointly made by six religious groups representing Buddhism, Catholicism, Confucianism, Islam, Christianity and Taoism was aired in memory of the deceased.

Joseph Ha Chi-shing, the auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong Diocese, called upon people to treasure their beloved and to support those who are hit by the pandemic by listening to them and to provide them with supplies.

Earlier, the Secretary for Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen paid his respects to deceased public officers at the Gallant Garden.

He praised marine police chief inspector Lam Yuen-yee and deputy director of social welfare Lam Ka-tai for their services to the public. Both of them died last year, and Lam died in a boat collision during a chase after suspected sea smugglers.