We Hong Kong people must rethink our values on health and work.
One good thing about severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) is that it is helping us to reconsider several matters, one being health.
Hong Kong people are known to care only for what is beneficial to ourselves in terms of dollars. How many times have we said: 'If we do not work to earn money, we will not have food to eat and die'?
In working to meet the needs of life, our life has become unbalanced. The recent economic downturn has accelerated this imbalance. It has made us work even longer hours and in the process ignore our health.
Amid this outbreak, we are paying more attention than ever before to other people's health. How often previously did we catch a cold or flu and wear a face mask to avoid transmitting germs to others?
How many times before did the whole of Hong Kong talk about health, with everyone thinking about others?