Ho Pak-leung, president of the Centre for Infection at the University of Hong Kong, believed there is a high risk of the novel coronavirus finding its way into the city after neighboring Shenzhen confirmed an infection. Ho suggested the SAR government start accepting mandatory health declarations at checkpoints just like Macao and the United States.

Ho's suggestion came after Wuhan confirmed the third death in a coronavirus-related pneumonia outbreak while Beijing and Shenzhen reported spread of the infection.

A 66-year-old man was confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus after visiting relatives in Wuhan on Dec 29.

The spread of the coronavirus outside the city of Wuhan, where the outbreat started, is understandable but it is highly likely that the new cases are contracted through limited human-to-human transmission, Ho said. Considering the constant flow of people between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Ho said the SAR should react promptly. Agreeing on the need for mandatory health declaration at checkpoints, lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan also suggested buttressing precautions by asking those who have developed pneumonia-like symptoms after returning from the mainland to be reported to health authorities.

Chan said though Hong Kong hasn't reported any confirmed case so far, it is imperative that the city to steps up its preventive efforts.