Lam Wants us to be Empathetic

Lam takes off her mask before speaking to the media

Poor Carrie.

She desperately wants Hongkongers to understand her feelings.

We're all going through a very tough time now, with the coronavirus pandemic going into its third year, there are strict social-distancing measures in place, intense lockdowns happening in a Kwai Chung housing estate where residents there heckled her and spewed profanities at her, and there's all these former lawmakers and activists in jail, some remanded in custody, three major news outlets shut down, and countless small businesses having to shutter for financial reasons.

Lam wants people to feel her emotions

And yet Carrie wants people to know how she feels.

The question had to be asked sooner or later. At several press conferences, Lam has chosen to take off her mask when health experts have warned people to wear a mask -- or even two to keep the Omicron variant at bay. Other speakers attending the event all wear masks except her.

Finally a reporter asked her why she did this and this was her reply:

"The people of Hong Kong have to hear very clearly from the chief executive and what messages she is conveying to the public. The people of Hong Kong may even have to feel my emotions," Lam said on Tuesday.

"Now I am very sombre, because I am very worried," she said, arguing a mask would not allow the public "to see for themselves" what she was feeling.

"I am the chief executive of the special administrative region; people need to understand and feel my feelings. 

Yuen is bold enough to wear ducky masks

"I want the people of Hong Kong to understand exactly the situation that Hong Kong is in, and put in their effort to support this important fight against Omicron," she said. "This is nothing personal. This is really performing my duty as the chief executive."

Dr Yuen Kwok-yung, who has advised people to wear up to two masks, and that leaders should set an example, declined to comment on Lam's remarks, and so has Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection.

Maybe they know better how Lam feels?