In March last year, Hongkongers were informed through a text message on their mobile phones that Queen Elizabeth Hospital had been converted into a designated facility for Covid-19 patients. An insistent buzzing sound alerted mobile phone users to the incoming message, which was sent using the emergency alert system that was launched in November 2020 and cost HK$150 million (US$19.18 million) to develop. The funding was approved by the Legislative Council Finance Committee in February 2020 as part of a HK$30 billion injection into the anti-epidemic fund. In the past, the government received help from local mobile network operators to send emergency text messages to the public pursuant to an agreement reached in 2008. While the Finance Committee was told that the old system was used 12 times in the 12 months to February 2020, the lawmakers were perhaps not fully informed about the total usage of the system. According to the government’s response to our inquiry under the Code on Access to Information, the government used SMS to disseminate messages 13 times from 2019 to 2020 and 12 times from 2009 to 2010. The system was used once in 2021. We wonder if the Legco Finance Committee would have responded differently if it had been told that the old system was used only 26 times in 14 years, including nine years when it was not used at all. The main advantage of the new system is that an emergency message could be sent to the public within seconds whereas the old system would require four hours. Considering the ubiquity of instant messaging services and social media that can spread messages instantly, we urge the Legislative Council members to review the necessity of developing such an expensive system and be more vigilant when reviewing similar funding requests in future. Kam Cheun Wong and Myron Lai, Kowloon Tong As city returns to normalcy, it’s time to reflect After about three years of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are finally breathing a sigh of relief. It is hard to take in all the changes the city had to put up with during this challenging time. So many lives were lost during the various waves of the pandemic and many families are grieving for their loved ones. Many people have gone through stressful times especially those subjected to the long quarantines and the compulsory testing imposed on residents. Businesses also felt the pain as many shut down while some struggled to pay the rent. What lessons can be learned and what can be improved upon to better prepare the city to come out of such situations strong in the future? Honestly, it is great seeing the city lifting most of its anti-pandemic restrictions and moving ahead on its path to normalcy. Adeoti Joy, Causeway Bay Timing of border reopening not ideal I am writing with reference to the reopening of the border with mainland China. The government’s announcement that cross-border travel without quarantine would be allowed from January 8 was greeted with great joy in many quarters. Border reopening meant that many families were able to reunite for the Lunar New Year for the first time in three years. The tourism sector , as well as retail and restaurant sectors, look forward to a boost in business. Overall, the border reopening was seen as a New Year’s gift from the government. But it’s debatable whether now is really a good time for this move. Up to late last week, we were still seeing over 2,000 Covid-19 cases a day in Hong Kong. There may also be an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases on the mainland given that a large number of people have travelled around the country during the Lunar New Year holiday. Will our healthcare system be able to handle a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases if there is one? Isabella Suen, Tseung Kwan O