Get the balance right in fight against coronavirus
- The government’s strategy so far appears to be arbitrary – even illogical in some cases – as it changes rules week by week in a way that instils little confidence for a recovery, both economically and socially
The government has been clear about its strategy on Covid-19 – that a balance must be struck between protecting public health, the impact on the economy and public acceptance of measures to combat the crisis.
But sometimes the responses appear to be arbitrary and illogical, raising questions about whether the relevant factors have been carefully weighed. The exemption of local sightseeing tours from the four-person public gathering ban is the latest example that has many baffled.
We do not know how many Hongkongers are yearning for such tours in groups of 30. Many have flocked to country parks and other attractions in small groups anyway, as the number of new locally spread cases shows signs of easing.
However, there are also those who are keen to regain the constitutional right to protest, which has been effectively suppressed by restrictions on public gatherings.
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Officials are under growing pressure to be seen as helping the hardest hit industries, such as tourism and catering. But they also face attacks when attaching higher importance to the economy and leisure than rights and freedoms.