Hong Kong residents expressed growing frustration Thursday after new, tighter coronavirus restrictions went into effect, imposed by city leaders in line with Beijing’s zero-COVID policy.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam ordered new strict measures to
take effect Thursday as the highly-contagious omicron variant of the virus
causes record daily cases.
That includes limiting public gatherings to two people and
private ones to members of only two households. Places of worship, hair salons
and other businesses were ordered to close.
Such measures are part of Hong Kong’s effort to align itself
with mainland China’s “zero-COVID” policy, which aims to totally stamp out
outbreaks, even as infection numbers continue to rise and other countries shift
their approach to living with the virus.
Outside a vaccination center in the Sai Wan Ho area on
Thursday, retiree Ken Wong waited in a long line to get his first shot so that
he would qualify for a “vaccine pass” when it’s available.
“This is insane,” the 70-year-old said. “There is no way to
reach zero cases. If we are going to achieve zero cases it would mean
everyone’s wallet will become empty because a lot of people will be out of work
and have no income.”
The latest measures will remain until at least Feb. 24, when
the vaccine pass will be rolled out, allowing only vaccinated people to visit
places like shopping malls and supermarkets.
Newly confirmed cases fell slightly on Thursday to under
1,000 after hitting a daily record 1,161 on Wednesday, Hong Kong health
authorities reported. Overall, Hong Kong has seen only about 18,500 cases of
COVID-19 and 215 deaths among its population of some 7.5 million.
Opponents of the zero-COVID approach contend that with
nearly 65% of the population fully vaccinated and signs the omicron variant of
the virus is less severe for those with some immunity, that it is time to
change course.
“The government is having difficulties adopting a new
strategy which will both align with mainland China but also serve the interests
and adapt to the situation in Hong Kong,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a
professor of political science at the Hong Kong Baptist University.
“Nothing can be decided without Beijing’s green light, and
the local authorities don’t want to take any chance with that.”
Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed over to
communist-ruled China in 1997. Under the “one country, two systems” principle,
the territory was to retain its own political, social and financial
institutions for 50 years after being transferred from British rule.
But China has been tightening its control, stamping out
political opposition and curtailing free speech. It imposed a sweeping National
Security Law following anti-government protests in 2019, resulting in the
imprisonment, intimidation and exile of most opposition voices.
There’s a practical reason for complying with zero-COVID
policies — to facilitate travel between Hong Kong and the mainland under less
stringent quarantine rules than the three weeks or more required of all
foreigners arriving in the Chinese mainland.
Beijing will not let Hong Kong’s borders to the mainland be
reopened unless the city reaches and maintains zero-COVID.
This week, Beijing officials and Chinese state media warned
Hong Kong against any changes, saying that adopting a “living with the virus”
policy would overwhelm its medical systems, the newspaper South China Morning
Post reported.
In the upscale Discovery Bay neighborhood on mountainous
Lantau island, home to many foreigners, all residents were ordered tested this
week after authorities found traces of the virus in the sewage.
Sewage testing is a common practice in Hong Kong, but
government demands for entire communities to be tested if the virus is detected
are stretching the patience of residents enduring long lines at testing
centers.
“The approach is obviously not working,” said Ivan Serrano,
a 42-year-old from Spain who had just been tested with his son.
“We can see that other countries with different approaches —
apparently the situation currently is better and here, it just got worse.”
_____ Rising reported from Bangkok
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