It would be premature to draw conclusions about Hong Kong’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic , but since almost a year has passed an interim verdict might not be out of place. This would surely be “pretty good but could have done better”. The reservations are mainly about the quarantine system , the loopholes in it and inadequacies in enforcement (“ Mysterious revolt against Carrie Lam brews among the blue ribbons ”, December 24). The basic reason for the failings is a lack of leadership which has led to excessive and inappropriate responsibilities being thrust onto medical and health staff. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor herself would surely remember the experience of the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak and the importance of teamwork. The police were an integral part of that team, with the force taking on different roles including regular checking of those who were under quarantine. In the past, the standard response to the sort of situation we are now facing would be to perhaps create a temporary post of deputy chief secretary to head up the overall effort of coordination, control and communication. There is a potential candidate in Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, who is widely respected by colleagues and outside organisations and who has already been given ad hoc pandemic-related tasks . Dr Priscilla Leung Mei-fun has suggested that we need more experts, but we already have on hand some of the most reputable in relevant fields anywhere in the world. Surely what we have a greater need of is more foot soldiers who are effectively deployed. Rachel Cartland, Mid-Levels