Hong Kong Now World's Worst in Covid Deaths

Patients are back outside hospitals, no space and warmer temps

Hong Kong was one of the best places in keeping Covid-19 at bay for two years, and now it is the worst.

Today the city logged another record 56,827 positive cases, and a shocking 144 deaths in the past 24 hours, ranging in age from 42 to 102 years old. While 56 of them lived in elderly care homes, 124 of them were not vaccinated.

The rising line is the number of HK deaths

Up until the beginning of February this year, Hong Kong had hardly any deaths and now it is at 17.3 deaths per 1 million people. 

When comparing Hong Kong to New York City via @kjoules:

Most cases in a day per 1 million people

NY 6,621 (January 3, 2022)

HK 7,676 (Today)

Most deaths in a day per 1 million people

NY 67.9 (Before vaccines April 7, 2020)

NY 15.0 (After vaccines January 11, 2022)

HK 25.1 (Today)

Meanwhile the government and advisers are still deciding about implementing universal testing. Today Dr Yuen Kwok-yuen admitted that the window for inoculating the elderly has passed and that conducting universal testing will only find too many cases and not enough places to isolate them all.

Other experts questioning the need to do testing in March also include Ben Cowling, Gabriel Leung, Leung Chi-chiu, and Ho Pak-leung. 

There is still no consensus or final announcement on how universal testing, which is supposed to start on March 26 will be done. The government says there will be 500 testing centres so that people will not have to wait too long, and these testing centres will be located in schools (that are not used because students have been forced into an early "summer vacation".

Yuen admits HK should have vaccinated elderly

Currently there are only 19 testing areas in the city, and another 43 mobile ones operated by contractors. Are there even enough staff to conduct tests at all 500 sites?

Apparently when people go for the three tests -- in family groups -- they will receive KN95 masks and rapid testing kits to screen between tests. All our nostrils will be extra sensitive after this is all over with. 

It was also reported that some 1,000 prisoners have caught Covid, including democracy activists Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho Chun-yan. They tested positive after using the rapid antigen tests but currently show no symptoms. 

As a result of the positive cases, lawyers will not be able to visit their clients in the next two weeks, while loved ones and families of the detained cannot see them for another one and a half months.

Isolation units with bars on the windows...

And then there are the isolation units being built... apparently it is four to a room -- how is that even social distancing? Squat toilets (and now some Western ones we have been told) -- and mainland Chinese electricity sockets. No one alerted the mainland contractors that Hong Kong uses the British sockets.

So if you do end up in one of these isolation trailers with three other strangers, at least bring a multi-plug adapter with you...

Covid-19 Cases Could Jump Exponentially after CNY

There may be a spike in Covid-19 cases after Chinese New Year

The number of Covid-19 cases keep climbing in Hong Kong, with 142 cases recorded today, and 160 preliminary positive.

Most worrying are the untraceable cases with experts stunned as to how to track down their sources. And with the Lunar New Year public holidays coming to a close, in the next few days there could be a possible explosion of cases after people gathered with their families during the most important festival in the calendar.

Chuang (left) urges people not to meet for CNY

"We are worried because we may see hundreds or more cases as the Omicron variant is more transmissible. It poses a huge burden on the health care system," Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, of the Centre for Health Protection said today in the media briefing.

"We also have seen some airborne transmission reported from some family gatherings, and we urge people to stay at home."

In general this is true -- some families have opted not to meet up, while others have had muted gatherings. There are also reports of people receiving fewer laisee or lucky money than in previous years because they are worried about meeting people.

However, respiratory disease specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu finds the number of untraceable cases worrying and suggests the government should hand out more fast-testing kits in the community, saying the city doesn't have the capacity to do large-scale testing.

But Chuang refuted this, saying the current lockdown of certain buildings was effective enough and that the authorities would continue to identify high-risk areas through confirmed cases and sewage tests.

Jeff Leung first senior official to get Covid-19

Of the new infections recorded today one was identified as Jeff Leung Wing-yan, Deputy Commissioner of Labour (Occupational Safety and Health). He is the first senior government official to be infected with the coronavirus.

In addition, people trying to get their business completed with government departments will have to be more patient, as the work from home arrangement will be extended for all 170,000 civil servants aside from those serving essential and anti-epidemic services until February 11.

As a result a number of government departments will limit services, such as inland revenue, labour, civil engineering and development, information services, building, drainage services, social welfare, and electrical and mechanical services, as well as the Housing Authority, Education Bureau, and Hongkong Post.

In the case of the last one, air mail stopped for many countries anyway, but this just shuts the city down even further.

Tonight the government issued another notice, concerned about Covid-19 spreading in Hong Kong.

Dr Leung suggests more testing kits to people

"The Delta and Omicron mutant strains are spreading in the community at the same time, posing unprecedented threat to Hong Kong," said a government spokesman. 

"The epidemic situation of the fifth wave may be more severe than that of the previous four waves. Members of the public are urged to stay vigilant, wear masks properly and get vaccinated as early as possible in order to greatly reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death when infected. With the concerted co-operation of the public in fighting the epidemic, Hong Kong will surely overcome the current epidemic situation."

Sounds like a hunker down in the bunker kind of message...

Is Hong Kong Beating Omicron?

Can Hong Kong celebrate Chinese New Year February 1?

One government advisor on the pandemic seems to think Hong Kong could possibly be out of the Omicron wave within two weeks or just after Chinese New Year, if the number of cases remain stable and all of them are traceable.

Yuen of HKU says cases are stable and traceable

Dr Yuen Kwok-yung made this pronouncement today as Hongkongers wonder if they will be able to celebrate the start of the Year of the Tiger with family on February 1.

"If we could identify all the transmission chains and the number of local cases remains stable, this wave of the coronavirus could end before or after Chinese New Year," he told a radio program.

However, his colleague Dr Leung Chi-chiu disagrees.

"It's still too early to say that the epidemic is under control at this stage, [and saying so] will even mislead the public."

Could they please decide amongst themselves what stance they are going to take before announcing it to the public? It's too confusing and disheartening to hear two completely different opinions...

Meanwhile, the government may announce tomorrow if the restrictions will continue or will be even harsher. So far bars, pubs and 14 other types of businesses were forced to close for two weeks, while restaurants can stay open until 6pm, though they can operate as a takeaway business in the evenings.

Hong Kong's airport looks like this these days

In addition to cut down on the number of imported cases, the government has barred air passengers from 150 countries -- 150 -- from coming into Hong Kong, even to transit into the city between January 16 and February 15.

The restrictions means practically every major country is on that list, further isolating Hong Kong, and making it even more trying for people wanting to come in to see loved ones or sort out personal matters.

And people outside of Hong Kong wonder why I haven't traveled in over two years...

Interesting to see Moon Palace, the restaurant in Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong has reopened two weeks after it was the hotbed of Omicron infections. Around 10 diners and their close contacts caught the virus, while 200 other customers and 20 staff were sent to quarantine.

Moon Palace has reopened, but few diners today

As expected not many people ventured into the restaurant to dine in, even though it had been thoroughly disinfected.

Hong Kong's Pathetic Vaccination Rate Needs a Boost

New survey says 39 percent still yet to get vaccinated

It is frustrating to find Hong Kong has still not reached herd immunity -- the magic 70 percent double inoculated after vaccines were made available in the spring. Currently the city is at 67.6 percent, with only 18 percent of those 80 years and older who are vaccinated.

More than 5,600 respondents to the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong's online survey, 59 percent had both jabs, while 39 percent had yet to get inoculated.

18 percent of those aged 80 and over are jabbed

Of those unvaccinated, 47 percent of them had no plans of getting jabbed at all, while 27 percent were still undecided. The remaining 26 percent planned to get vaccinated but unsure of when.

"As specialists, we know that this [reluctance] is not good... Even before Covid-19, vaccines in general could prevent a lot of potential deaths and serious conditions for other illnesses, so vaccines can help a lot," said infectious disease specialist Dr Wilson Lam.

But William Chui Chun-ming, president of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists, said it was "not the right moment" for the city to transition to coexisting with the virus given the current inoculation rate, particularly with so many elderly residents still unvaccinated.

"When the vaccination rate goes up to more than 90 percent, then we can consider living with the virus," he said.

Leung says vaccination is the only way out

But when will that be?

The rest of us who got inoculated early are still waiting for the rest of Hong Kong to get jabbed, but many still don't care to, which is infuriating because it prevents us from moving forward.

Respiratory medicine specialist Leung Chi-chiu, who was not involved with the survey, says Hong Kong, like the rest of the world, is tired of the pandemic, "but vaccination must be the way out".

He suggests the government continue to prod people to get the jab, but the authorities should escalate to preventing unvaccinated people from visiting shops and restaurants.

Government pandemic adviser Yuen Kwok-yung says Hong Kong needs to get to 99 percent of the population inoculated to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed before opening up to the mainland and the rest of the world.

Kwok believes 99 percent need to be vaccinated

Chui urged the public to get their jabs immediately rather than wait for a second-generation vaccine, as the threat posed by the Omicron variant remained uncertain.

"You will have to wait at least half a year before there are new-generation vaccines that can tackle Omicron... and if there are more variants coming up, it will cause panic among residents," he said. 

So Hongkongers, please do your civic duty and get your jabs! The rest of us are counting on you to help keep everyone safe unless you want us to live in a hermit kingdom sealed off from the rest of the world forever...

Hong Kong Extends Vaccination Program

More people want to get vaccinated which is a good sign...

Now that stragglers are finally getting vaccinated, the Hong Kong government has decided to keep its community vaccination centres open for another month, until October 31.

"The demand for Covid-19 vaccination has increased recently. Should the vaccination progress be maintained at the current pace or increase, it is likely that 70 percent of the eligible population will at least have had their first dose of a vaccine by the end of September," a government spokesman said Friday.

Dr Leung wants more seniors to get the jab

That would mean the city would have to maintain a rate of at least 30,000 jabs per day.

Senior government officials have hinted the only way to re-open the border with the mainland is to increase inoculation rates. This week Hong Kong reached a milestone of half the population with at least one jab. 

While the community vaccination centres which administer the BioNTech vaccine will open till the end of October, they will be whittled down to 26 instead of the current 29 come September 1. 

Those wanting Sinovac jabs can go to the Hospital Authority's 26 outpatient clinics that will also be extended till October 31.

In addition, a shipment of BioNTech jabs -- about 956,000 shots -- arrived in Hong Kong today from Germany. 

Maybe more people are getting a jab to win a flat?

Respiratory medicine specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu said it made sense to continue operating the community vaccination centres because of demand. But he warned there were key demographics such as the elderly who are 60 years old and above who still needed to get vaccinated, as their vaccination rate was only 20 percent.

Maybe people are keen on entering the numerous lucky draws and so they are now getting vaccinated...

Typical Hong Kong.

Pandemic Woes Continue

Interesting vaccination loopholes pop up as incidents happen

 A few months ago it was discovered that people in Hong Kong signed up to get vaccinated in one place but showed up at another (and got a different vaccine).

This man went to the wrong centre and wrong jab

Now there's a case of a 30-year-old Singaporean man who was inoculated with the Moderna vaccine in his home state, came back to Hong Kong where he works and got two BioNTech jabs so that he could have a local record of being vaccinated in order to go to bars.

Hong Kong authorities have warned they may prosecute the man for his "extremely selfish and irresponsible" behaviour.

Health experts also believe getting four jabs is excessive and could have harmed his health. The incident also revealed a loophole that healthcare workers at the vaccination centre did not ask if he was inoculated overseas. 

Are you ready for pandemic traveling to Europe?

But why would anyone think to ask that question when the vast majority of people have not left Hong Kong in over a year and a half?

There were also concerns that those to administered the jab to him would be in trouble for wasting vaccine resources. This is also excessive, considering there are more than enough vaccines going around since many people still don't want the jab.

It's a curious case and crazy desperation on the Singaporean's part to have a drink in a bar.

Meanwhile there are some people who are so desperate to travel now that a small tour group has flown to Europe with a tour guide. They all did the requisite antibody test and will be in hotel quarantine when they arrive back in Hong Kong.

A small Hong Kong tour group flew to Europe

"It's the first tour package we have had since late February last year when the coronavirus pandemic spread, and borders closed everywhere," said Miramar Travel general manager Alex Lee Chun-ting.

He said the company received more than 30 inquiries over the past few days on arranging private travel plans.

"After being stuck in Hong Kong for more than a year, many avid travellers are itching to get out," Lee said. "But now they're looking for experiences away from city centres, they want to stay in boutique hotels instead of chain hotels, and they also want to be closer to nature."

Tours advertised on the Miramar Travel website are priced from HK$12,000 to HK$23,500 (US$1,545-US$3,035) -- about 30 percent more than usual and visiting Germany, Italy and the UK.

Travelers are interested in being closer to nature

However Dr Leung Chi-chiu, a respiratory medicine specialist, urged Hongkongers to avoid leisure travel as the Delta variant had spread across Europe, Britain the United States and Southeast Asia, warning returnees may bring the mutation into Hong Kong.

"Based on how the Delta variant has spread, we can't determine the countries which adopted a 'live with the virus' approach have been successful at this point," he said.

Indeed.

Convoluted "Vaccine Bubble" Starts

The "vaccine bubble" is very confusing and tedious

 

Today the government's "vaccine bubble" kicked off, with new regulations for restaurants, bars and nightclubs depending on if staff and customers have their first vaccine or not, and that people had to use the LeaveHomeSafe app.

For restaurants, if all staff have had at least one vaccine as well as customers, then people can sit six to a table until midnight in restaurants, and if both staff and guests are vaccinated with both doses, bars can have eight to a table and dine until 2am.

However, if not all staff or customers have at least one vaccine dose, then they continue as before, four to a table until 10pm.

Leung says the new plan not backed by science

All three options could be available in one restaurant space.

However, given that many restaurants in Hong Kong are relatively small, having spaces for people who have been completely vaccinated, half vaccinated and not at all is not possible.

Apparently the government did not think about this, nor did they realize eateries in this expensive town are tiny.

Nor is this convoluted plan endorsed by health experts.

Infectious disease expert Leung Chi-chiu warned yesterday this "vaccine bubble" plan is not backed up by science and can't be relied on to prevent coronavirus transmissions.

"The number of customers far outnumbers the number of restaurant workers. They [customers] are more likely to be the infection source, and they are also exposed to any customers who carry the virus," Leung said.

"If you only require people to have one dose of the vaccine and you also do not specify the timing, for example at least 14 days after the dose, I think that may not be effective," he said.

If more people get jabs they can dine out later

"Even if you specify the timing, that they need to have the first dose for over 14 days, the actual protective effective varies with different vaccines. It's only estimated at 20 to 70 percent and that may not be adequate to prevent transmission."

Leung also doubted the wisdom of setting up "clean" and "dirty" areas in restaurants based on which groups of people have been vaccinated, saying there may be no separation in the ventilation between the different zones.

"If you really want to reduce the risk of transmission inside an indoor environment, basically you need everyone to be vaccinated, with two doses and for more than 14 days," he said.

However, one restaurant group that has several dining establishments advertised on social media a list of restaurants where people could eat six to a table until midnight.

Someone asked if all their staff had had the two jabs, and the group explained that those who had received the vaccination would work in those specific restaurants, while those who had not would be working in their other places until 10pm. 

Osteria Marzia's staff are vaccinated

In a way this is discriminatory because those who have not received the jab would not have the potential to earn more tips because they would have two fewer hours to work; but at the same time, even those staff with two vaccine doses would still risk being exposed to the virus.

Other restaurants couldn't be bothered to try to implement the new regulations without the fear of being hassled by the police and just continued their business hours until 10pm with four customers per table.

The government is also releasing an app so that people can upload their vaccination records on there to show restaurants. This evening an acquaintance tried to download it and had the hardest time even doing the first part which was scanning his HKID three different ways. It was also only available in Android.

Why is the government making it so hard to prove to others you've had the jab?

And by the way the LeaveHomeSafe app is totally useless.

Last week I went to The Royal Garden Hotel and had that fabulous meal of white asparagus.

A hotel guest had the virus, everyone was tested

Then this past Tuesday it was in the news that anyone who was at the hotel from April 13-26 had to do mandatory testing otherwise they would be fined.

It wasn't the LeaveHomeSafe app that notified me -- it was my friend who dined with me.

So much for Hong Kong being a hi-tech city. 

Having a swab stuck up my nose left it very itchy and my eyes watered.

But less than 24 hours later I was notified I tested negative.

Phew! But what a waste of an app that I still have to use if I want to eat out...

South African Mutant Strain in HK Community

Dr Chuang believes hotel hooks may have spread mutant virus

 

There are fears the mutated Covid-19 variant from South Africa is now in the Hong Kong community after a man who flew in from Dubai, did the three-week hotel quarantine and then was found to be infected with the N501Y variant.

Another woman, a domestic helper stayed in the same hotel, the Ramada Hong Kong Grand Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, but different floor, and two others on the same floor were also found to have the South African mutated variant.

At least four infected cases stayed in this hotel

According to the Centre of Health Protection's Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, it is believed they all caught the virus in the hotel, and a possibility is the hook on the handle of the door where meal boxes were hung for the guests was infected. Apparently those hooks were immediately removed since and replaced with chairs.

Experts assessing the situation said the hotel's ventilation and drainage systems were fine.  

Dr Leung Chi-chi, a respiratory medicine specialist, said he had reservations about the door hook theory.

"It's unlikely the guests would have touched the hook with a handful of sneeze and saliva. I think it's more likely the patients exhaled virus particles into narrow corridors when opening the door to get their meals, which had then stayed there for a long time."

It is also possible that staff are not cleaning the hotels thoroughly enough after each guest leaves, or pumping enough clean air in the hallways. Leung says quarantine hotels should install systems that ensured the air was changed six times per hour.

Meanwhile, while meeting local friends or chatting with them online, many have not gotten the vaccine and are still thinking about it.

People are still considering to get the vaccine

WHAT IS THERE TO THINK ABOUT?

They are now pushed a bit after hearing the news that the BioNTech jab will run out in September, but they are still not in a hurry to get it.

After weeks of nagging a younger relative who is in the education field, he is finally getting his on Friday.

It's hard for me to comprehend why the hesitation. There are only two vaccines to choose from, and one is better than the other.

Meanwhile my expat friends and colleagues have already gotten the first dose and eagerly waiting to get the second one despite the range of side effects from almost nothing to severe headaches and fever.

My argument is getting a vaccine -- whichever one you choose -- is better than none at all.

While it does not protect you 100 percent from Covid-19, the vaccine will lessen the severity of the symptoms when infected and in turn the long term health effects after recovering from the virus.

So... what are you waiting for?

Number of the Day: 144,000

Even monks are waiting in line to get vaccinated in Hong Kong

Even though 5.5 million people were eligible to sign up for a vaccine yesterday, only 144,000 took up the offer, though it was an eight-fold jump from 18,600 the day before.

It seems a lot of people are still not convinced to get the jab right away, including many domestic helpers, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor seemed disappointed by the low-key response.

Carrie Lam answering questions in Legco today

In a question and answer period with lawmakers in the Legislative Council, Lam sought to reassure the public, explaining there was an expert panel who decided on which vaccines to have in Hong Kong. She also said the government was considering ways to nudge people to get vaccinated.

"We are now considering offering incentives not only in aspects of cross-border travel, but also room to relax certain distancing measures for those who have been vaccinated," Lam said.

However, respiratory medicine specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu believed even if there are incentives to encourage people to get the jab, the relaxation of social-distancing and travel restrictions will be limited until more people are vaccinated.

Leung said there was "a confidence problem that must be addressed", otherwise not enough elderly or vulnerable members of society would get vaccinated. 

Only 144,000 out of 5.5m people signed up

Professor Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiologist from the University of Hong Kong, said he was worried not enough people would take the shots even when there were enough doses for everybody in the city.

A high vaccination rate was the city's "pathway back to normal", he said.

Will people accept the government's incentives? To some degree many will as they are desperate to travel and dine more freely, or see a live show.

But many are in no hurry to get a vaccine yet, forcing everyone else to wait until they get the jab before Hong Kong can finally relax some restrictions.

Unprecedented Lockdown in Yau Tsim Mong

Police cordon off the area in a Yau Tsim Mong street tonight

 

An unprecedented lockdown has just begun at midnight in 150 buildings in Yau Tsim Mong district (Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok) because of the unprecedented number of coronavirus cases. However there is a lot of confusion of what is exactly meant by this lockdown and how long it will last.

District councillor Andy Yu said in this evening's press conference that the residents in the affected buildings are uninformed as to what will happen -- have their moments been severely curtailed or can they still venture out for food and medical appointments?

150 buildings will be under lockdown in this area

"Most of them would like to know more about what's happening and they still need to deal with the changes. Maybe some people... they have to go to work tomorrow, or they have to go to the hospital... so many different kinds [of complaints] that we have received, said Frank Ho, another councillor, who reports those who have contacted him are scared.

So far there has been no word at all from the government for clarification of what the lockdown will entail. As a result, many have gone out today to stock up on supplies, while others even fled the district.

Media reports say only those with negative test results are allowed to leave and come back, but as another district councillor, Suzanne Wu pointed out, someone negative could catch Covid-19 while out, and locking people up in the building when the spread is possibly caused by the environment is not a good idea.

Dr Leung says the lockdown is "too late"

Indeed respiratory disease specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu says a stay-at-home order is "too late" and "rather meaningless" as most residents have already been tested, and suggested instead expanding the scope of testing to nearby buildings to uncover possible clusters.

The Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, an opposition party focused on lower-income groups, blasted the lockdown plan and urged authorities to support residents by inspecting plumbing systems in buildings and updating them if necessary.

"The government seems headstrong in committing to ineffective measures. Its latest proposal to lock down a whole zone will cause the stigmatization of the area and its residents, disrupt residents' daily lives and severely undermine local economic activity," it said.

So basically this lockdown is a mess -- no one has any details of how it is supposed to work,  and there are questions as to how effective it will be.

Many are ethnic minorities in tenement buildings

There will be lots of questions about accountability and transparency this weekend and especially Tuesday morning when Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor holds a press briefing...

 

 

 

 

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...