Editorial | The evacuation from Japan is only the start of the virus challenge
- It is imperative that the Hongkongers flown home from the Diamond Princess cruise ship be put under strict quarantine while the government must also take action to evacuate residents stranded elsewhere
As more cruise passengers have been safely brought back to Hong Kong on government chartered flights from Japan, a new challenge has just begun. The operation came as the number of Covid-19 infections on board the Diamond Princess continues to climb.
It is imperative for those returned to be put under strict quarantine. Meanwhile, officials must continue to provide support to Hongkongers stranded elsewhere, including those in the hardest-hit province of Hubei.
Given the circumstances and sensitivities, a botched evacuation from Yokohama would have aggravated the health crisis. To the credit of the Hong Kong government, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Japanese authorities and airline Cathy Pacific, the rescue was largely smooth.
While the first batch of 106 Hongkongers arrived on Thursday after some hiccups, a second flight has been delayed until at least Friday, with possibly another one to follow.
A health-related overseas evacuation of this scale is a first for the Hong Kong government. The parties involved must work closely together to ensure a smooth operation.
The Japanese authorities still owe the world an answer as to why the number of infections on board the ship has risen to more than 620 during the 14-day quarantine in the port of Yokohama.