The Wuhan coronavirus and other perceived Mainland Chinese threats to Hong Kong's health and wellbeing

The Pillar of Shame at the University of Hong Kong

 

We're living in a topsy turvy world where ideas once revered

are now not given much credence :(

 

Let's start off with the good news first: Hong Kong recorded zero new local Wuhan coronavirus cases for the second day in the row today; the first time this has happened since July 3rd-4th.  So I reckon it's pretty safe to say that our third coronavirus wave has truly subsided.  Further confirmation that this is so comes by way of the easing of certain social distancing measures.  This includes bars and restaurants being allowed to open until 2am (from the current 12 midnight) and operate at greater capacity, and public gazetted beaches being reopened.    

But even while the dine-in limit for restaurants will be raised to 6 (from the current four) this Friday, the public gathering will remain at four.  This has prompted jokes about how a legal party of six diners will become lawbreakers once they leave the restaurant they had been since they'd then constitute an illegal gathering on top of similar jokes cracked last week after the Hong Kong government announced that 30 person tour groups will be allowed even while four person gathering limits continue to be upheld.    

 

The cracks highlighting how ridiculous the government's decisions are elicit laughter from listeners but it's the kind of laughter that was recorded in Elenore Smith Bowen's Return to Laughter.  Specifically, "In an environment in which tragedy is genuine and frequent, laughter is essential to sanity...  It is often bitter and sometimes a little mad, for it is the laugh under the mask of tragedy, and also the laughter that masks tears."

 

Alternatively put: it is so very obvious to many Hong Kongers that the government is using the (threat of the) Wuhan coronavirus to suppress people and protest.  Thus it is that, as Renaud Haccart Tweeted back on September 15th: "As noted by other commentators, there’s a fair chance that group gathering rules will be the very last to go, as they provide the perfect cover for police to disrupt any public protest of any size or form and make arrests."

 

As things stand, the government appears to have gotten even to the hitherto highly trusted Professor Yuen Kwok-yung (of the University of Hong Kong's Department of Microbiology).  Either that or the strain has gotten to the good doctor as he's made pronouncements recently that have been greeted with suspicion and/or derision.  Take as an example his proposal that bar patrons use straws and wear masks while drinking.  (One reaction: "Does this man drink alcohol?  Or did he drink too much alcohol prior to coming up with this preposterous suggestion?!")  

 

In addition, there's his recent suggestion that tests be made mandatory for patients with mild symptoms associated with the Wuhan coronavirus (which provokes fears that it's going to pave the way for mandatory universal testing and the setting up of a "health code" a la Mainland China, along with DNA harvesting).  And on the same day as this proposal was reported on, the Hong Kong government has revealed plans to allow more Hongkongers to return from Mainland China without having to undergo quarantine from next month: i.e., effectively loosen health checks at the border!   

 

Whether they come into Hong Kong after undergoing quarantine or not, two people from Mainland China whose confirmed appointments and expected arrivals have already caused unease and dissent are the incoming vice president of research and vice president of academic development at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).  At a glance, it might be assumed that Hong Kongers (including pro-democratic councillors and civic groups, and HKU staff, alumni and current students) are exhibiting anti-Mainland Chinese sentiment but their opposition actually stems from fears that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) -- not (just) Mainland Chinese individuals per se -- are assuming control of Hong Kong's premier university (this not least since one of the individuals concerned was previously reported to be a Chinese Communist Party member).

 

Fears that pro-Beijing parties will unduly benefit from a government proposal to let Hong Kongers living in Mainland China cast ballots remotely in the city’s elections also are behind Hong Kongers' (strong) opposition to it.  Especially since the government is not planning to extend voting rights to Hong Kongers living in other parts of the world (like, say, Britain, the USA, Australia or Canada), this does smack of official efforts to ensure that the pro-Beijing camp does not get a pasting in future elections the way that they did at last November's District Council elections.  

Remember: there was much talk about those elections having been allowed to go ahead because the governments (in Hong Kong and over in Beijing) and pro-Beijing camp mistakenly believed that "the silent majority" was on their side; whereas this year's Legislative Council election was not allowed to go ahead as scheduled because they now know full well that the majority of people living in Hong Kong are not pro-Beijing (as well as are super anti-Carrie Lam and her administration).  And lest it not be obvious: despite whatever the powers that be say, the Legislative Council election was not postponed because of the Wuhan coronavirus! 

 

Something else that should be patently clear: despite the Legislative Council electoral system already being rigged, the authorities actually have to rig it further to actually ensure a victory for their allies!  On the one hand, this points to a seriously sad state of affairs in, and for, Hong Kong.  On the other, it goes to show how strong the opposition to the Hong Kong government (and its Beijing overlords) is -- and that, in some ways, is pretty heartening since, among other things, those who passionately love Hong Kong really are in the majority in Hong Kong.