The Wuhan coronavirus surge is threatening Hong Kong's freedoms as well as Hong Kongers' health

All looks well from a distance but notice the gray blocks 

on the bricked surfaces?  They are painted over graffiti

 And yes, protest graffiti keeps on reappearing despite the 

best efforts of the authorities to make them disappear!

Hong Kong recorded its highest daily tally of new Wuhan coronavirus cases to date yesterday, with a total of 108 confirmed infections; of which only 25 were imported and, really disturbingly, the source of 48 are unknown.  The numbers fell to 66 new local transmissions and seven imported cases today -- but Hong Kongers are by no means feeling all that assured or safe from this third wave which seemingly came out of nowhere just a few days after Hong Kong went for three weeks without a single recorded local coronavirus infection.

Looking back to that day when we were celebrating going for 21 consecutive days without recording a local coronavirus infection though, it seems that the warning signs were actually there due to that being the very day when a pilot was confirmed to have been infected by the Wuhan coronavirus and many of us got to realizing that he was -- and other flight crew were -- exempt from the coronavirus testing and quarantine measures that we thought were fully protecting us.  But it was only yesterday that we got to discovering how long is the list of arrivals to Hong Kong exempt from testing and quarantine. 

Among those exempt from compulsory quarantine arrangements if they come to Hong Kong from Mainland China, Macau and Taiwan: Cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers and necessary accompanying personnel; government officials carrying out governmental duties; staff of Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse and livestock importers residing in the Mainland; directors or executives of companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange who travel from Mainland China to Hong Kong (or vice versa) "for essential business activities"; and Secondary 3 to 5 students of Hong Kong schools who are officially Hong Kong residents but actually reside in Mainland China.  

Altogether, there are a total of 33 categories of people who qualify for this exemption -- which surely makes for a not insignificant number of individuals all told!  And despite their not being explicitly mentioned in that list, I have a feeling that the new occupants of the Metropark Hotel in Tai Hang also are/were exempt from coronavirus testing and quarantine after they arrived in Hong Kong from Mainland China.  

Speaking of the Metropark: The Kowloon branch of this hotel chain (which formerly was known as the Metropole) was ground zero of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong back in 2003.  Coincidentally, in 2009, its Wan Chai branch was where the Hong Kong's first reported H1N1 case stayed!  And now, a restaurant at the Kowloon Metropark is being connected with a cluster of Wuhan coronavirus cases: specifically, at least six people who have dined there in recent days have tested positive for the coronavirus.  So, understandably, I'm getting the feeling that this is an ill-fated hotel chain for Hong Kong!

Among other notable recent case clusters: a family living in disciplined services quarters (i.e., police quarters) with nine members infected after eating at a restaurant in Kwai Fong (as opposed to Lan Kwai Fong); and attendees at a "Handover celebration dinner" on July 9th (who were singing and dancing without masks at the venue rather than just eating and drinking).  Though, for sheer numbers, the biggest cluster is currently centered in Tsz Wan Shan district, with transmission centers there including a number of restaurants and at least one elderly care home.

With all the new coronavirus cases has come a blame game.  As expected, China's state media and Hong Kong's pro-Beijing media outlets have sought to blame the democratic primaries that took place two weeks ago for the coronavirus surge while other people, including leading local medical experts, are pinpointing the Hong Kong's authorities aforementioned massive "quarantine loophole".  Also, way too predictably, pro-Beijing official Tam Yiu-chung has floated the possibility of the September Legislative Council elections being postponed because of this Wuhan coronavirus surge.   

Consequently, Hong Kongers who value democracy have one more reason to wear a mask these days.  In short: "Wear a mask in July so you can vote in September."  Let's not give the government an excuse to cancel or postpone the elections (however flimsy it can seem to rational individuals).  And while we're at it, let's not give them justification to impose a hard lockdown on Hong Kong too!