By Dr. Karl So, Doctorate of Business Administration
2020 is not a usual year for everyone in Hong Kong, beginning with the chaos of separatists leading to the debut of Nation Security Law, with the multiple waves of COVID-19 hitting our society and leading a dark age of our economy. Where else, the world is watching a drama of US presidential election like a reality show, no one has any idea on how it is going to end. We believed in the National Security Law is the solution to stabilize the social unrest that happened last year, then what are the solutions for public health and reboot on the economy? And the balance between them?
From aviation and travel to the food and beverages industry was suffering from COVID-19 for about a year, despite the Hong Kong Government had released two rounds of supporting funds, the unemployment rate is still high raise to 6.4% in Q3. Q4 can be even worse as major layoffs in these industries after all subsidies have already been provided. And today, COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong are not going down as we expected, and seems like there are multiple unidentified spreading groups among our society.
Let's take a deep breath and think about what we need, or what Hong Kong needs.
First, we want visitors. Quality visitors will bring in not just spending in retails but also business opportunities. The commencement of the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble arrangement was supposed to start from Nov. 20, but now deferred by two weeks, simply because of the high number of COVID-19 confirmed cases. We bumped into the wall on the first bubble, and we can't expect others like Japan and Korea will have a travel bubble that soon either. The actual quality visitors are no doubt from Mainland China, no matter for touring, shopping, financing, and other activities, they have succeeded to contain the spread and protect public health. But they will not take any risks by coming into Hong Kong.
Second, we want to travel. No matter it is leisure or business, or even just because of wanting real hugs from friends and families, Hong Kong people want to be traveling again. This will boost the aviation and travel industry again, and perhaps business travel to the Great Bay Area is required by many companies in Hong Kong too. However, the Guangzhou Government already rejected the Hong Kong Government's travel proposal of lifting the 14 days' quarantine to enter mainland China. The only way to accept this proposal is that Hong Kong having 14 days of zero local new confirmed case.
Third, we want to return to our normal lives again. Even wearing a mask and washing hands are the new norm these days, we don't want to be like this endlessly. The social distance restrictions have been confining our activities in every way, including relationships, friendships, and families, something spending years to build up. For almost one year, the reason we are still having these restrictions utterly because we still have COVID-19 cases.
I am hoping the Policy Address will be targeting our wishes and seems like a "Zero" is the answer we want. A "Zero" will provide a negotiation power high enough to bring multiple air travels bubbles on our table, mainland China doors open to Hong Kong for business and leisure, and finally lower the social distance restriction for a relatively normal life again. A "Zero" to COVID-19 new cases in Hong Kong.
No doubt this is not an easy "Zero", but putting in the Policy Address will be going to LegCo to enforce by law and that means a compulsory COVID-19 test for every citizen. A lot of supporting roles and preparation are required such as sample collection locations, testing laboratories, lock-down measures, and all the logistics behind it. It will easily take four to six weeks to execute.
Mainland China had proven and set a role model for COVID-19 control, tests for the entire city when there is a single unknown case, millions are tested within days. These actions had been successful to reset cities back to normal. If mainland China provides help in resources, skills, and experiences, resetting Hong Kong to "Zero" will not be a dream.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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