This was the most unforgettable birthday ever for 68-year-old Hong Kong resident Pang Kong-cheung — a day he languished in Wuhan, Hubei province, the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic.
His simple birthday wish — a bowl of wonton noodles and a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea — is out of reach even on the big day, Feb 14.
Pang and his wife went to Wuhan on Jan 18 to visit relatives. They became stranded on Jan 23, when the city was placed under quarantine in the effort to contain the epidemic.
Pang is a marathon lover, yet he has been confined in a residential block for about 40 days. Pang and his wife are staying at the home of his sister-in-law. They are not allowed to leave the block unless there is an urgent need.
Pang has no urgent need to return to Hong Kong — no work nor other commitments. Other than the boredom, life is basically passable for him.
The food supply ran short soon after the lockdown. Yet supplies have recovered. Face masks and disinfectants have remained in short supply. But it is also not that serious as the family is not allowed to go out.
Yet there is a problem with medication. Pang has hypertension. He brought with him medicine that could last only 10 days — the intended length of their stay in Wuhan.
After running out of medicine, Pang asked the Hong Kong government for help on Feb 2. His daughter, at home in Hong Kong, passed the medicine he had left to local officials. Two days later, they were delivered to him in Wuhan.
A former member of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, Pang also facilitated the federation to contact other Hong Kong residents stranded in Hubei. So far, more than 2,700 Hong Kong residents have been languishing in the province.
Their waiting paid off. The Hong Kong government announced late last month it will arrange chartered flights to take the stranded people back to the city free of charge. Yet they will be required to stay in quarantine centers for a two-week observation.
Glad to know about the arrangement, Pang said he is content to be isolated, as he doesn’t want to bring trouble to Hong Kong.
He also said the biggest regret of this trip is that he didn’t enjoy local snacks in Wuhan, like hot dry noodles. He will be looking forward to them on his next visit after the epidemic, he said.
