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Letters | Hong Kong Covid-19 mutant strains: singling out domestic helpers is pure discrimination
- Domestic helpers should be shown respect and gratitude for their service to the community, rather than be treated as the source of our problems
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Sunday’s “My Take” made an important point (“Vulnerable yet valuable sector becomes an easy target”). Our domestic helpers should not be collectively held responsible just because one of them tested positive for a mutated strain of the Covid-19 virus.
The announcement that they must all get tested by May 9 has caused much anxiety and, as far as I am concerned, not properly thought out in terms of logistics. There are about 370,000 of them here, working many hours in the day while having to compete with other residents for a place in the testing queue. A longer deadline would only be reasonable.
Lest we forget, over the decades, our domestic helpers have given tremendously good and invaluable service to our community. Yes, we pay them a salary but they more than earn it and should not be singled out as if they had caused our problems.
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Remember the early days of Covid-19 when countries were name-calling and looking for scapegoats? Discrimination takes many forms. An ill-considered order at an inappropriate time can, and usually does, cause more damage. We need our helpers as much as they need their jobs. Let us show respect for one another.
God bless.
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James A. Elms, Mid-Levels
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