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Letter: Hong Kong should be free of China’s zero-Covid straitjacket
From David Brown, Hong Kong
Hong Kong says that it is pursuing a zero-Covid strategy with the aim of opening up quarantine-free travel to mainland China (Big Read, January 15 and Big Read, February 2)). Unfortunately, the policy has not worked.
We are told that Covid can enter Hong Kong and China on letters, frozen food, online shopping, air crew, hamsters, or from travellers and employees themselves infected in 21-day quarantine facilities. We will never have zero cases on either side, and China will not permit the border to open as long as it pursues its own zero-Covid policy. I have not met anyone who believes otherwise. Only government officials repeat the mantra, though in their hearts it must surely ring hollow.
The population cowers, not from fear of the virus itself but rather from what the Hong Kong government will do to us if we are found to be infected. The people don’t want zero-Covid any more. But the people have no voice. No diversity of opinions in the legislature, no critical domestic media. No one can or will challenge the status quo or call leadership to account.
If Hong Kong opens its borders and relaxes the restrictions placed on its citizenry there is no question that the virus will come in and infect a high proportion of the population as it has elsewhere. But Hong Kong has a first-rate healthcare system, sufficient vaccines for all and an efficient and fast means of administering them. It can also afford medicines for treatments now available. And Omicron itself has been shown to be a largely mild disease. It is of course quite possible that Hong Kong doesn’t have authority to make a decision like this. But if we assume that it is the responsibility of our government and our legislature to represent the citizens of this city then I urge our officials to talk with and listen to the people.
Does this letter represent the views of the majority in Hong Kong? The government should go out and ask.
David Brown
Hong Kong
https://www.ft.com/content/a86ae24e-856e-495c-b269-a47a6b94ac6e
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