Politically-Motivated Messaging

Lam accuses those not willing to be tested as smearing the central government

Today Hong Kong recorded 19 new cases, more than double the count yesterday, and interestingly the government decided today to announce a slight easing of social-distancing measures.

From Friday people will be able to eat dinner in restaurants until 9pm though only two per table, and people don't have to wear masks while exercising, as well as when in country parks. Non-contact sports like golf and tennis will be restarted and cinemas will open too though no eating or drinking during the screening.

Chan announces relaxation in social-distancing measures

It seems strange the government is relaxing these measures before the start of the free mass two-week coronavirus testing on September 1.

When this was pointed out to the Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee at a press conference early this afternoon, she just parroted the same line that it was important to use the universal testing as a way to find asymptomatic carriers in the community and that it was good for everyone to take the test.

Chan did not answer the question, and it's a valid concern.

She also seemed to blame the public for having pandemic fatigue as another reason to loosen the restrictions, perhaps a hint that if there is another uptick in cases, local residents should be blamed.

Yesterday two infectious disease experts, Dr Ho Pak-leung, a University of Hong Kong microbiologist, and Dr Leung Chi-chiu, a respiratory medicine specialist, publicly stated they would not get tested for the voluntary testing program.

People can dine in restaurants until 9pm starting Friday

When Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was asked by an RTHK reporter what she thought of "well-known people" not taking the test, her tone turned angry.

"I will make a strong plea, that well-known people, especially in the relevant professional areas, should really express their view in a more responsible way, since this is about public health, let's focus on public health," she said.

"Why should some people refuse to do the test?" she asked. "This question should not be answered by me. It should be answered by those who smear the scheme since it was launched, and by those so-called experts and doctors who ask the public not to join by using excuses.

"There's only one reason. It's because of political consideration and calculations -- to find another issue to smear the central government."

Dr Ho Pak-leung said he would not take the free virus test

Ouch.

Someone was getting very touchy and tried to link some experts' reluctance to take the test as a way to tarnish the central government -- who by the way is footing the bill and manpower to conduct the coronavirus tests.

These two experts just said they were not going to take the test. Others have privacy concerns, that the mainland companies conducting the tests, maybe collecting biometric data of Hongkongers that could be used to develop a health code similar to what China has at present.

Meanwhile the same RTHK reporter asked why the government was organizing this mass testing, when it could have arranged for the Legislative Council elections to take place, but instead postponed it for a year, blaming it on the pandemic.

Lam was not happy to have this question and pointed out that it was inappropriate and unreasonable to compare the two.

Dr Leung Chi-chiu publicly said he would not take the test

"I think there are a lot of differences between the two arrangements," she said. "As far as universal communal testing is concerned, we are not cramming it into a single day. We have allowed ourselves up to two weeks to invite members of the community to come forward for the testing.

"Secondly, we are going to do an online booking system. So preferably we won't be seeing crowds or long queues in front of the swabbing stations to have the test done," Lam said.

But others still could not understand why an election could not be organized in say two or three days and have an online booking system of when to vote and line up at the appointed time to avoid the long queues Lam is so concerned about.

And even better, people who are voting will not take their masks off, whereas those conducting virus tests could have a chance of being exposed to Covid-19, and must wear full personal protective equipment.

But alas we must be grateful to the central government for footing the bill for these tests and not allowing us to exercise our right to vote.

Lam's combativeness with the media only reveals her short temper as well as her inability to understand why others don't have the same views as her...