After being holed up to contain the coronavirus, Hongkongers must now show agility befitting the Year of the Rat

Hongkongers know what’s best for their city. The government isn’t trusted – it has made obvious that its job is to protect the interests of elites and that is not in sync with the well-being of citizens.

A decline in daily coronavirus infection cases to single digits isn’t because of the clear thinking of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her administration; it’s because Hongkongers have taken protection, cleanliness and social distancing into their own hands. People need to get on with their lives and business be allowed to resume, so a decision by authorities to extend restrictions to at least May 7 only shows a lack of faith.

Hong Kong has never been a city in lockdown; there has been advice to isolate and stay indoors as much as possible, but no rule stating there has to be good reason to be outdoors. Schools were quickly closed and many office staff are working from home. Social distancing regulations limiting groups in public to four are generous by requirements elsewhere. Restaurants remain open, although they have fewer customers as tables have to be at least 1.5 metres apart.

Government-mandated closures of entertainment venues, pubs and bars, private clubs, fitness centres, beauty salons and the like have been the result of knee-jerk responses by officials to cases.

Warnings abound about lifting the restrictions too soon. The argument is that social distancing is keeping numbers low and there is always the risk of a third wave from mainland China. But there is pressure from the business community, particularly the retail and catering sectors, to ease or lift the limitations. The tens of thousands of workers who have lost jobs or are about to, are also eager that business returns; they have mouths to feed and rent to pay.