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Published: 15:43, March 21, 2022 | Updated: 11:32, March 22, 2022
Female leadership a weapon in anti-pandemic battle
By Wang Yuke
Published:15:43, March 21, 2022 Updated:11:32, March 22, 2022 By Wang Yuke

File photo of Joephy Chan Wing-yan. (IDA XUE / CHINA DAILY)

A petite figure wearing personal protective equipment, clenching bags filled with anti-epidemic necessities and food in both hands, hurries through residential buildings day and night.

When she’s not running errands, she’ll likely be found in the Legislative Council meeting room, bringing the residents’ voices to the table.

Chan Wing-yan, the youngest member of the LegoCo of Hong Kong and a member of the Federation of Trade Unions, plays fully to her female agency in the citywide wrestle with COVID-19.

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Kwai Tsing, Sham Shui Po and Tsuen Wan are among the hardest-hit areas in the fifth wave of the coronavirus outbreak

Kwai Tsing, Sham Shui Po and Tsuen Wan are among the hardest-hit areas in the fifth wave of the coronavirus outbreak. When residential buildings were condoned off one after another and people were grounded without any warning, a sense of doom shrouded every household.

The virus is invisible and the exact day for lifting restrictions was unknown; ambiguity was everywhere. When people realized the insidious virus was coming their way, or when they or someone in their family tested positive, they became disoriented.

They desperately dialed the government’s hotline to find out what was happening and what to do, said Chan.

At crunch time, she made her mobile phone number public, personally offering directions for every inquiry.

“People were thrilled when they got through. I know, at the powerless moments, even having their calls answered could help a lot. It at least calmed them down, making them emotionally anchored,” Chan said.

In a male-dominated LegCo, Chan takes pride in being one of the few female members and being the youngest one.

Chan Wing-yan (center) gives anti-pandemic supplies to the drivers of designated buses. The drivers take COVID-19 patients to quarantine facilities at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Channeling her considerate, attentive, sympathetic and tender traits into the community-level battle against the pandemic, Chan empowered residents to collect themselves, stay cool, and navigate through the rocky patch.

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In limbo, people can easily get hysterical. “A resident in Kwai Tsing attempted suicide by jumping from the building. We soothed him by talking at length. With the aid of the Fire Department, we prevented a tragedy from happening,” said Chan. “Communication is really important. Interaction with the residents is not only an outlet for their emotions, but sheds a light on where their anxiety lies, so that I can use my way to rid them of the negativity.”

Her strengths lie in producing YouTube videos. Chan is YouTuber with over 300,000 subscribers. Different from other YouTubers who share knowledge and tips of lifestyle matters, Chan’s channel “tells the story of China and Hong Kong as an integral part of the country”.

Amid the raging pandemic, she gives her video content a different spin, providing accurate information about the pandemic as well as the government’s anti-epidemic measures.

“Those viral rumors and misinformation during the pandemic stoked up unnecessary fears and panic. As a politician and a key opinion leader, I’m responsible for setting things straight so that people can make informed choices,” Chan said.

Each video generates over 200,000 views, bringing ease, reassurance and hope to the masses, and a badly needed antidote to the widespread fear, disorientation, and chaos prevailing amid the grim situation.

Chan also makes use of the social capital that she’s earned from her two roles — politician and KOL — to mobilize her followers to do their bits in the exhausting war against the coronavirus.

“A lot of my audience have joined the volunteer community … You know, gestures of goodwill and compassion are infectious. The commitment of my team members and volunteers from all walks of life is also infectious to me.”

The “togetherness” in fighting a battle against an aggressive foreign enemy not only brings everyone closer but also solidifies everyone’s conviction that “we will never retreat until the coronavirus falters in the city,” said Chan.

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Another considerable source of motivation for Chan comes from her father, a retired civil servant. As Hong Kong slipped into the pandemic conundrum, “my dad volunteered to go back to the frontline, helping the management at the isolation facilities.”

When asked what her father said to galvanize her, Chan smiles and proudly says: “He doesn’t have to say anything. What he’s been doing every day is already a big prod, silently lodging in my mind and imprinted in my head. We’re there for each other.”


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