The sudden arrival of the new pneumonia strain is like a mirror that perfectly reveals the true colors of the political zealots in Hong Kong, and allows us to distinguish the malevolent and immoral medical workers from the benevolent and moral ones.

On the Chinese mainland, thousands of medical employees have rushed to the center of the outbreak to combat the epidemic. 

It is hoped that all medical staff in Hong Kong put public health as their top priority, diligently perform their duties and stand by their patients until recovery

Putting their patients’ health before their personal safety, they are the angels of mercy who disregarded their personal interests and vowed to stay at the front line of the battle against the coronavirus until the epidemic is conquered. Such noble sentiments reveal to us the truly sacred nature of a healer.

In contrast, a large number of medical employees in Hong Kong’s public hospitals, who are supposed to hold fast to their positions at this critical moment, have chosen to abstain from their responsibilities and go on strike! The so-called “strike to save Hong Kong” campaign demands the SAR government completely shut down all access between Hong Kong and the mainland. Such a movement is truly unimaginable and distressing to witness.

Whether to seal off all the access routes requires the SAR government to deliberate on the impact on the local political, economic and societal landscape. Everyone would acknowledge that there are still a large number of Hong Kong residents living and working on the mainland. A complete closure of access points will undoubtedly cause much inconvenience to them. Moreover, as the mainland is the most important source of the food supply to Hong Kong, even if shutting down all border checkpoints is a viable option, the SAR government will have to deliberate on how to ensure the supply of fresh livestock, vegetables, eggs, etc., and how to maintain the stability of consumer prices.

In fact, the SAR government has already taken a series of measures to protect public health, which includes requesting mainland authorities to suspend issuing entry permits to Hong Kong; reducing marine, land and air transportation services between the two sides; and shutting down the four control points of Lo Wu, Huanggang, Lok Ma Chau and the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal on Feb 4. Therefore, the SAR government has indeed endeavored to reduce cross-border traffic while maintaining the necessary exchanges between the two sides. In doing so, the government has demonstrated responsiveness, accountability and resolution.

The public certainly has the right to make suggestions on cross-border traffic. Nevertheless, those who place politics above human lives, to stage a political farce intended to secure more votes in a coming election, or to create confrontation to further divide the community are simply selfish and irresponsible individuals trying to gratify their personal interests by means fair or foul.

Gong Tingxian, a well-renowned doctor in late 16th-century China, once said, “When patients seek help from doctors, they entrust their lives to us.” Patients hinge their hopes of recovery on doctors. Hence, doctors should treat everyone equally with love and care. The profession should center on patients’ health and healing, demanding its practitioners persistently embrace the qualities of benevolence and self-sacrifice. All in all, doctors are expected to perform their noble role with professionalism when members of the public are in need.

The Hospital Authority medical employees on strike treated their patients like bargaining chips and regarded their lives as nothing but a tool to pursue their own interests, demonstrating a total collapse of morality and professionalism. These medical staff disgraced their profession of “the angels in white”. Paying no regard to their patients’ lives, their conduct even fell short of the basic standards of humanity. How disheartening it is for the public to see the so-called healers reveal their true colors.

Containing the coronavirus epidemic is akin to fighting a war and concerns the well-being of every Hong Kong resident. Under such dire circumstances, how can the medical staff on strike bear putting the last straw on our medical system? To win this war against an invisible enemy, every medical worker counts. I call on the opposition camp to put aside political disputes and stand with the government and the community in their efforts to safeguard the health of Hong Kong residents. The tragedy of SARS should not be repeated in this city.

It is hoped that all medical staff in Hong Kong put public health as their top priority, diligently perform their duties and stand by their patients until recovery. On behalf of the 700,000 members of the Federation of Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organizations, I would like to pay tribute to all doctors and nurses who dutifully remain at their posts in the battle against this epidemic.

The author is a Hong Kong member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. This is an excerpted translation of his Chinese article published in Wen Wei Po. 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.