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- Jun 20, 2013
- Updated: 1:23am
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Hongkongers appeal to US over baby formula shortage
Hongkongers are appealing for help from US President Barack Obama as infant formula supplies continue to run low despite the government having pledged to guarantee supply.
A petition, entitled "Baby hunger outbreak in Hong Kong, international aid requested", was created on Tuesday on the White House website's "We the People" section. There, individuals can create and sign petitions to request action by the US federal government.
"Local parents in Hong Kong can hardly buy baby formula milk powder in drugstores and supermarkets, as smugglers from mainland China storm to this tiny city to buy milk powder and resell it for huge profits in China," it reads. "We request international support and assistance as babies in Hong Kong will face malnutrition very soon."
A minimum 100,000 signatures are necessary before a February 28 deadline to trigger a response from the White House. The appeal comes just days ahead of an expected government announcement of measures to deal with the shortage.
Speaking on RTHK yesterday, Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man said the government was studying the feasibility of making baby formula a reserved commodity like rice. That would curb trading by mainlanders, who are blamed for the shortage and inflated prices.
"In two or three days, the government may be able to announce some new measures. We are now discussing the details," Ko said.
Executive councillor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who proposed the measure, has also suggested that each traveller be allowed to carry at most two cans of formula out of the city. Ko said in case of a quota, an exemption would be made for local parents.
Many pharmacies in the New Territories were sold out of formula yesterday, with government announcements having aggravated the usual rush of mainland shoppers ahead of the Lunar New Year.
Most stores in Sheung Shui appeared to be out of stock. But outside one branch of Watsons, a mainland woman and her son packed 40 tins of formula into bags and suitcases to take home.
"My children are grown, but I give these as gifts to family members for the New Year," she said. "I bought some extra when I heard the government was thinking of restricting purchases."
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10:58am
11:01am
10:18am
10:09am
This petition is going to be laughed out of the White House if it reaches 100k signatures. They’re going to look at it and toss it to the side after sticking a label on it that reads “First World Problems”. HK babies are not suffering from malnutrition and the shortage of formula is greatly exaggerated.
To me, this petition is a vote of no confidence. It’s HKers declaring that they don’t believe in the government of Hong Kong and the PRC. It’s like a child going to grandpa for money to buy a toy. The child knows mom and dad will say no, so he goes to someone else.
But if the people signing the petition genuinely are requesting for international aid, how ignorant has HK as a society become? What do the people signing the petition expect the US would do? Have a couple aircraft carriers loaded with baby formula anchor at Victoria Harbor and use fighter jets and helicopters to air drop the baby formula to our streets? Have US armed guards stationed at our borders to apprehend formula smugglers?
10:08am
11:06am
9:42am
Appeal to Obama? Even if the petition does get through to him, he'll be laughing this *** off.
I'm a parent with two kids in HK, including a baby, for the record it is NOT DIFFICULT getting baby formula here, we can get it when ever we want.
Are idiot HKers going to start waving US flags now in addition to the colonial flag??
8:35am
To the children or anyone that is really suffering from malnutrition all around the world due to poverty (forget milk formulas - mothers not having enough nutritions to sustain her self let alone milk producing) I AM TRULY SORRY that there thousands of ***** in HK that is hijacking your urgent desperate unbearable plight, unfortunately many of you will never get to hear this due to your dire situation.
THis is BTW beyond retardation, its simply arrogance and ignorance at its brightest - there another HK CORE VALUE.
8:01am
I am sorry, but this petition makes you look ridiculous - as if we are being invaded by foreign troops and required immediate assistance form a foreign country.
Why not just ask the manufacturers to increase supply to HK (increase orders to make sure the demand is met)? How is HK a "free economy" if you forbid to buy goods, because the demand is high? This is the opposite of free market. I can't understand how HK could become so easily manipulated and can't see simple solutions. Instead, you just shout - regulate this, put a stop to that, provide more flats (and fast) - very soon, there will be no HK left as we knew it just a few years ago - we will wake up on the mainland.
Can't you see where this is going? Please wake up, or else you will be part of command economy and 5 year plans very soon. I will simply relocate if that happens (unless you will make the government pass a new law forbidding that - yes, yes, freedom of travel is very carefully controlled by the government in certain countries, I remember I experienced that myself 20 years ago in my country).
You will have to suffer consequences of willingly giving up your freedoms, piece by piece, starting with little things, like baby milk powder, sales taxes.
God bless you!
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