HONG KONG-The central government’s top official in Hong Kong on Thursday called on the city to prioritize the public’s welfare rather than personal interests, saying that nobody could afford to be complacent as the battle against the coronavirus reached a “critical juncture”.
Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR, made the remarks in an open letter to Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress and members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee.
In the seven-page letter, Luo said that work to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on the mainland and in Hong Kong had entered the most difficult phase. In such circumstances, “only with concerted efforts can we conquer the virus”, Luo stressed.
The novel coronavirus pneumonia that originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, has infected more than 74,000 people across the nation, including 68 patients in Hong Kong. There has been a consecutive drop in new infections in the past few days across the country.
To ultimately win the battle against the epidemic, Luo said, people should make scientific and rational suggestions about the government’s virus-control measures, instead of exploiting the health crisis to polarize society for their own political agendas, which he likened to a “political coronavirus”.
Demanding a complete lockdown of the city, thousands of medical workers in Hong Kong staged a five-day strike early this month, dealing a heavy blow to the city’s already-strained health system. The SAR government has closed 11 of the city’s 14 checkpoints to contain the epidemic.
Luo said the strikers had neglected the safety of their colleagues and fellow citizens. He urged the city’s medical practitioners “not to be on the wrong side”.
The liaison official also called for solidarity amid the virus onslaught. Those who willfully undermine the deep bond between Hong Kong and the mainland will face a backlash, Luo said.
More and more Hong Kong people will agree that the SAR should not become an isolated city, he added.
Luo said the country always has fully supported Hong Kong’s efforts to combat the epidemic, adding that related departments and mainland-funded companies in Hong Kong are working hard to ensure a stable supply of food and necessities.
As long as the cargo transportation is smooth, food and other necessities will continue to be delivered to the city, Luo stressed.
Despite its own shortage, the mainland has shipped 17 million face masks to Hong Kong after the SAR reported its first infection. Tourist visas to Hong Kong have also been suspended to reduce visitor arrivals to the city.
Luo said he’s confident the nation will overcome the epidemic soon with the government’s determined efforts, and called on the public to keep calm and not be misled by rumors.
Over the 17 years since SARS, China has come a long way in terms of national strength, administrative ability, institutional effectiveness, and the general public’s understanding about epidemics, Luo said.
