Staying the Covid-19 Course

Lee says Hong Kong will not "lie flat" when it comes to Covid

In Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's first question and answer session in the Legislative Council, he said that Hong Kong would not "lie flat", nor would it live with the Covid-19 virus, echoing the mainland's dynamic zero Covid policy.

"Regarding anti-epidemic strategies, I do not agree with lying flat, allowing infection numbers to increase arbitrarily, as there will be risks of serious and fatal case numbers increasing proportionally, when the base number increases," Lee said Wednesday.

He echoed Xi's policy of dynamic zero Covid

Lee said Hong Kong would continue as before, detecting cases early by using PCR testing, and then isolating and treating them as soon as possible, while ruling out more travel curbs.

He added the new Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau is looking into possibly reducing the length of time in quarantine.

In his address to lawmakers, Lee said Hong Kong should "pay the smallest price for the biggest effect" in stopping case numbers from rising. They are currently at around 2,000 per day.

The former security chief's language was very similar to President Xi Jinping's, in saying that "herd immunity" and "lying flat" would risk too many lives in the most populous country in the world.

More PCR tests in Hong Kong, no relief in sight

Nevertheless, as Lee continues to tow the line set by his predecessor Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Hong Kong residents didn't have much to hope for in terms of any light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel. 

So the chances of Hong Kong ever opening up might be in 2023? Lee has said border talks with the mainland would be "pragmatic"... whatever that means...