Letters | Hong Kong’s Covid-19 isolation facilities must meet safety, clinical standards for public health

Readers discuss regulations for community isolation facilities, the chief executive’s juggling act over mass testing, the startling emergency alert sent out to the public, proper use of consumption vouchers and policy priorities amid the pandemic

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A community isolation facility for infected residents at San Tin in Lok Ma Chau on March 10. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:30am, 12 Mar 2022

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There has been much discussion about the feasibility of an isolation policy with the aim of reducing the spread of Covid-19. Further, the remarkable speed with which the community isolation facility in Tsing Yi was completed has also caught the attention of many, being called nothing short of miraculous.

However, the safety of any building in Hong Kong is also regulated by many ordinances previously gazetted by the Legislative Council. These include occupation permits issued by the Building Authority, fire safety of buildings ensured by the Fire Safety Ordinance, standards of safe electrical supply maintained by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and others.

The criteria for admission to the quarantine centre is based on a clinical condition for which medication might also be prescribed. Therefore, the community isolation facility should be governed by one of the following: the Hospital Authority Ordinance, the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance, the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance or the code of practice issued by the Social Welfare Department.

Finally, in anticipation of the likelihood of anxiety and mental health issues, there should be provisions for people’s personal safety and the prevention of suicide.

By adopting the use of community isolation facilities, let us hope the cure is not worse than the disease and that safe building quality, clinical standards and the rule of law will always be maintained in Hong Kong, no matter how strange our times.