My Take | Students face arduous trip to return home to Hong Kong for Christmas
- The government must ensure they can visit in a way that protects public health and their own well-being. There is a need for clarity, compassion and common sense
Christmas has arrived early this year. Festive lights are adorning flats in Hong Kong and tinsel-clad trees are appearing. Decorations are in demand in the US and Britain, where there has even been a rush to stream Christmas music. It is not even December yet.
But making merry with friends and relatives brings its own challenges as global efforts to contain the spread of the disease continue.
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One problem we face in Hong Kong as we prepare for the festive season is the return of students from overseas. My son will, hopefully, be among them. Hong Kong’s second wave of cases, in March, was sparked by travellers hurrying home as the virus spread around the world. Many rushed back to avoid quarantine restrictions imposed that month. Quarantine at that time involved spending two weeks at home. But some of those returning abused the system and ventured out. Since then, the restrictions have been tightened. But cases are on the rise again.
Students have had a tough time during the pandemic. Their education has been disrupted, with online lessons and changes to exams. Their ability to socialise, such an important part of university life, has been curbed by lockdown restrictions. They deserve a break.