Letters | Hong Kong’s coronavirus cure must mix tech with dose of empathy

Hong Kong has harnessed the latest technologies against the pandemic and the latest relief package is better late than never, but what the crisis has highlighted most of all is the power of community

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Hongkongers clap in support of the city’s health care workers battling the coronavirus outbreak, in Mong Kok on April 3. Photo: Hong Kong Community Foundation

Published: 6:45am, 25 Apr 2020Updated: 6:45am, 25 Apr 2020

The Covid-19 outbreak was first reported in mainland China, and subsequently in other Asian countries including Japan, Singapore and South Korea. Just as we thought the situation was under control in Asia, the number of imported cases surged as travellers returned. In Hong Kong and Singapore, cases have risen significantly since last month.

Hong Kong has a wealth of resources to achieve a high level of monitoring and surveillance, the epitome of a technocracy. As a student returned from Britain, I found that my international classmates were shocked at the surveillance I encountered in Hong Kong – mandatory quarantine, GPS tracking wristband, free Covid-19 saliva test. The technocracy is evident and essential. This explains why cases in Hong Kong have risen much more slowly than in European cities. However, this pandemic is not just about figures, it is also about the people, and about empathy.

Since the first wave of infections in late January, members of poorer households and street cleaners in Hong Kong had been queuing day and night for face masks. Businesses and freelance workers demanded government support as the economy suffered. While the Singapore government acted swiftly to distribute masks to every household, Hongkongers waited for NGOs to source masks globally and for a private property developer to install mask vending machines.

Scant support for the underprivileged and for communities affected by Covid-19 sparked accusations of a lack of empathy from the Hong Kong government. Our government eventually saw the light and unveiled a HK$138 billion Covid-19 relief package to protect livelihoods and businesses. Well, better late than never. It is a much-needed move from the government to address deep-rooted social dissent since the pro-democracy movement.

I believe Covid-19 is a test of governance, revealing dichotomies and dilemmas in personal, national and international decision-making processes.

But one lesson I have learned is the power of community. Even when our governments may not be making strides, do not lose hope because we all have a huge stake in alleviating this crisis. Stay at home, take food to those in need, spare masks and protective equipment for the vulnerable groups.

The United Nations celebrated its first International Day of Conscience on April 5. It is indeed time for humanity to discover our conscience, show more empathy, love and care to the community.