Seven Chinese health officials arrived in Hong Kong, the first members of a 60-person team that will carry out widespread Covid-19 testing in the territory as it races to halt a third wave of illness, Reuters reported.

The initiative marks the first time mainland health officials have assisted Hong Kong in its battle to control the epidemic.

Members of the testing team, coordinated by the Chinese government, are mostly from public hospitals in Guangdong province, China's National Health Commission said. A group of local Hong Kong councilors said that some local residents fear China may use their presence as an opportunity to collect DNA samples for surveillance purposes.

The territory's government denied the claims, saying virus testing would only be conducted in the city and samples would not be transported to the mainland.