It's getting a bit crazy out there. In the first presser, Carrie Lam said the government will work with Chinese manufacturers after new years to obtain mask supplies in HK. People took that to mean they were doing what they did in Macau, providing everyone with masks to prevent an outbreak.
Today they came out and said that was just a rumor. They won't be providing anyone with anything at this point. This led to even more panic buying
It's one of those weird situations, where people are doing the right thing (everyone wearing masks) for the wrong reason (they think it stops them from getting sick). You don't want to tell them that, because you want everyone in a mask in case they get sick (this is where masks ARE effective). But at the same time, you feel bad that people are going crazy trying to get masks.