By Roy Mabasa  More than 12,600 overseas Filipino workers are slated to go back to Hong Kong soon but will have to go through stringent quarantine procedures as part of the HK government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), Philippine Consul General Raly Tejada said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Laging Handa briefing, Tejada said the expected arrival of OFWs is now being coordinated with Hong Kong authorities, the employers and recruitment agencies to ensure that quarantine protocols are strictly followed to ensure the safety and welfare of the Filipinos. Citing latest records, Tejada said they are expecting the arrival of 7,907 newly hired OFWs and 4,755 previously terminated ones who have found new employers. Tejada said employers and recruitment agencies have assured him that they assume responsibility in taking care of the 14-day quarantine requirement for arriving OFWs in Hong Kong. “I talked to them and emphasized the importance of ensuring the welfare of OFWs to our government. In no uncertain terms they accepted their responsibility (to) provide the quarantine protocols to the OFWs,” he said. On the general situation of the COVID-19 outbreak in the former Crown Colony, Tejada said Hong Kong has exhibited “good performance” in responding to the pandemic. Ho noted than since January when the news of the COVID-19 outbreak came out, all public places in Hong Kong such as parks and gymnasiums were immediately closed. COVID-positive cases were isolated and quarantined and contact tracing was put in place. “Hong Kong had experienced SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom) before, that's why they’re aware of what to do. They immediately wear masks though not yet required. We are all wearing masks here as a practice,” he said. To date, Hong Kong has a total of 1,178 confirmed COVID-19 cases with a high 1,083 recoveries and only 6 deaths, according to the online monitoring platform Worldometer. As the consulate braces for the arrival of the OFWs in Hong Kong anytime this summer, Tejada said they are also coordinating the repatriation of around 250 Filipinos who lost their jobs and were affected by the pandemic. He said arrangements are now being made at the Department of Foreign Affairs for a repatriation flight to Manila in the next one or two weeks.