Frustration Boils Over HK Govt's Covid-19 Restrictions

Everyone wearing a mask while crossing the street in Central

After seeing the rest of the world open up and resume their lives post-Covid-19, Hongkongers are agitating for some semblance of normalcy too.

A recent survey has found 70 percent of Hong Kong residents believe the government should further relax Covid-19 curbs, while about half are against having a vaccine pass for children aged five to 11.

Interest in getting vaccinated has dropped off

The survey was conducted by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong between September 29 and October 14, interviewing 705 residents above the age of 18.

While it's a tiny data set, it does give a good indication of how people feel about Hong Kong being in a state of limbo. People must wear masks once they walk out of their homes, scan the dreaded LeaveHomeSafe app anywhere they go, and are constantly told to get vaccinated.

Here are the highlights of the survey:

38.5 percent of respondents were infected with Covid-19 this year;

52 percent said they had never contracted the virus;

62 percent said they were not worried about being infected;

68.9 percent believe the government should relax anti-pandemic curbs, while 10 percent prefer the measures to stay;

Less than 5 percent support further tightening the rules;

Respondents tired of scanning QR codes 

49 percent do not support the government's move to extend coverage of the vaccine pass to children aged five to 11;

56 percent are against forced mandatory vaccination on elderly people in care homes.

Many people complain about the effectiveness of the LeaveHomeSafe app, while others have said they traveled abroad without wearing a mask and didn't get infected -- so they are frustrated having to mask up when they are back in Hong Kong. 

Here in Vancouver there is a slight increase in people wearing masks, not quite half, but they are young and elderly, concerned about the Omicron variant that is spreading here now. They are wearing masks mostly on public transit and in enclosed areas like libraries and shops.

It's an informed choice people can make rather than it being forced on them -- British Columbia health officials feel they can only strongly advise people to wear masks in indoor spaces because a mask mandate will only cause more resistance to comply.

However across the Pacific in Hong Kong, everyone is forced to be compliant which only makes them grumble even more -- behind their masks!