Letters | Review Hong Kong’s handling of Covid-19 for the sake of the next generation

Readers discuss the importance of examining whether the government’s pandemic measures took into account the needs and well-being of children, the mask mandate and tourism, and the rules for arrivals into Hong Kong

Coronavirus Hong Kong

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 10 Feb 2023

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As the world learns to live with the coronavirus, health experts, politicians and stakeholders are calling for a full review of their country or city’s response to Covid-19, so they can be better prepared for future disease outbreaks.

Some countries like the United Kingdom and New Zealand have already launched independent inquiries. Others, like Canada, are still debating whether to launch an independent inquiry, while Singapore has opted for a government review.

A review of the outbreak in Hong Kong is needed for the good of all. Following the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, a panel of international experts gave Hong Kong 46 recommendations on crisis preparedness. Thanks to the lessons learned, Hongkongers quickly realised the need to wear masks at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak.

As child rights advocates, we have high hopes of what can be gained from a comprehensive review of the pandemic. Over the past three years, we faced the challenge of how to explain the situation to, and comfort and support, children who suddenly fell into a world they could not comprehend.

Covid-19 took the life of 19 children and young people under the age of 20 during the fifth wave in Hong Kong. Some have been suffering from long Covid. As many as 2,000 children under the age of 12 who were hospitalised experienced enforced separation from parents.

Covid-19 restrictions cut off children’s interactions with people and the environment, hindering their development in speech and hearing, communication, movement and their physical and emotional well-being. Sadly, Hong Kong also recorded a surge in child abuse and exploitation cases during the pandemic.

The government needs to tell the public what arrangements were made to safeguard the rights and well-being of children in Hong Kong during the pandemic. How far did the government include children in the battle plan against Covid-19, for example, by disseminating child-friendly information or directly communicating with children? What measures were introduced to support children from deprived circumstances?

A review could also instruct us, as members of civil society, on how we can best serve the interests of our children. By collecting stories from local communities, we can also get a sense of what was really happening in our city. Only through a transparent, independent, engaging and comprehensive review, could we give true meaning to the slogan: “Together, we fight the virus!”

Billy Wong, executive secretary, Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights

Removing mask mandate would attract tourists

It is wonderful that our government is offering taxpayer-funded tickets for tourists to come and enjoy Hong Kong, but surely it would be a more attractive proposition if tourists did not have to wear masks once they have arrived?

Immediate abolition of the mask mandate would be the biggest encouragement of all, for tourists and residents alike. Nothing is going to change in the next three months that would make it more logical – medically or economically – to wait until then, rather than show some leadership and change it now.

Paul Serfaty, Mid-Levels

RAT tests for overseas arrivals boggle the mind

The Hong Kong government’s approach to the tourism crisis and the health issues related to Covid-19 is risible.

It has scrapped pre-departure tests for visitors from mainland China, where the actual number of infections is unclear, yet visitors, including those from developed nations, still need to conduct an RAT test.

Why are we still proceeding at a snail’s pace to make visiting Hong Kong a smoother experience while desperately trying to attract visitors with giveaways?

George Forrai, Mid-Levels

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