Coronavirus: US slams Chinese media for falsely saying consulate staff in Hong Kong invoked diplomatic immunity to avoid quarantine
- City’s leader confirms two infected US consulate employees, a married couple, sent to hospital and permission given for children to accompany them
- More than half of respondents to poll by American business lobby say family quarantine policy might affect their decision to remain in the city
Washington on Tuesday slammed mainland Chinese and pro-Beijing media outlets over what it called a “disinformation campaign” after they accused coronavirus-infected US consulate staff in Hong Kong of claiming diplomatic immunity to avoid quarantine.
But she emphasised the exceptional treatment for the pair was made on compassionate grounds and based on their family circumstances, rather than their status as consulate workers.
Lam’s clarification came as more than 80 per cent of about 240 members polled in a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong raised concerns over young children being sent to government quarantine facilities. More than half of the respondents said it might affect their decision to remain in the city if the policy was not revoked.
