Want Hong Kong leader to ‘order’ a day off after typhoon? Be careful what you wish for

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Commuters stranded at Tai Wai MTR Station on the morning of September 17, amid disruptions and delays in rail services due to damage caused by Typhoon Mangkhut a day earlier. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 5:03pm, 25 Sep 2018Updated: 5:03pm, 25 Sep 2018

Responding to Tom Holland’s article on September 22, “Typhoon Mangkhut: Hey Carrie Lam, a day off for Hong Kong made economic sense”, I would like to ask whether Mr Holland has thought through the ramifications of his final comment, “Carrie Lam [Cheng Yuet-ngor] can confidently order an extra day off”.

Are you really saying that you want the Hong Kong government to “order” the people of Hong Kong as to when they can and cannot work?

What do you think this will do to Hong Kong’s reputation as a free economy? What next? Will you then allow the Hong Kong government to order the press what it can and cannot print? What the people can and cannot read?

Be careful what you wish for. Demanding government intervention is a slippery slope. My personal preference would be to leave such decisions up to market forces. Those companies and managers who are unreasonable to their staff will ultimately lose staff to companies who are more flexible and respectful.

I for one would not want a government to “order” me when I can work. That should be up to me and my employer to decide.

Pierre Herbst, Discovery Bay

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