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Coronavirus pandemic
Hong KongSociety

Coronavirus: Hongkongers stuck on the Diamond Princess in Japan struggle with boredom, cabin fever and the threat of infection

  • Trapped and tired, city residents have to stay in their cabins for most of the two-week lockdown
  • But the 260 or so Hongkongers on board live in hope the government will arrange an evacuation

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Thousands are being quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in a lockdown set to last until February 19. Photo: AFP
Tony Cheung
Hongkongers stranded aboard the docked Diamond Princess cruise liner in Yokohama for seven days say they have to contend with stifling boredom, confined spaces, erratic meal times and dirty bedlinen – on top of the threat of the deadly coronavirus.
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Young Wo-sang and his wife manage to kill time by watching films and taking advantage of the free internet, but their only wish is to get home – in good health – as soon as possible.

The Youngs are among about 260 Hongkongers staying on the luxury cruise in Japan.

On January 25, thousands of passengers boarded the ship in Hong Kong for the start of an adventure taking in Vietnam, Taiwan and Okinawa.

Young Wo-sang is marooned on the Diamond Princess, where passengers are told to stay in their tiny rooms. Photo: Handout
Young Wo-sang is marooned on the Diamond Princess, where passengers are told to stay in their tiny rooms. Photo: Handout
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But as their voyage was about to end at Yokohama on February 4, they were banned by Japanese authorities from leaving the ship for two weeks because a former passenger had been found infected with the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 900 people since emerging from the central Chinese city of Wuhan last month.

The infected 80-year-old man from Hong Kong had disembarked the same vessel in the city on January 25.

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