Mask Debate Continues in HK

Hongkongers continue to wear masks until at least March 8

Hong Kong is probably the only place on Earth where there is still a mask mandate in place.

China dropped its mandate when it went to zero-Covid, and today Macau has dropped its policy of wearing masks outside, unless visiting a hospital or taking public transport.

The Hong Kong government has extended the mask mandate until at least March 8, which means people attending the upcoming Clockenflap music festival March 3-5 must wear masks while enjoying live music outside...

Sridhar advises doing away with masks now

Hardly makes Hong Kong appealing, even if it brands itself as "Happy Hong Kong" in a bid to entice more visitors to the city.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has suggested that the mask mandate could be dropped by the "end of the season", which means the end of the financial year, (March 31).

However, Dr Siddharth Sridhar, a clinical assistant professor in microbiology at the University of Hong Kong said the city could scrap the mask mandate anytime, since the population had a high level of hybrid immunity.

"Mask-wearing could not fully prevent a Covid outbreak, as we can see from the fifth pandemic wave last year," he said. "As to preventing influenza, we have never relied on a mask mandate either."

Sridhar also argued an outbreak of influenza was inevitable regardless of when Hong Kong lifted the mask mandate, as the population had low immunity levels.

Nevertheless he did advise people to wear masks in public transportation and crowded indoor areas.

Lo claims masks prevent people from smoking

The fact that Hong Kong is still debating this issue shows there is no straight-forward exit plan -- that the government hadn't even considered lifting the mask mandate and would rather people keep wearing them.

Like Secretary for Health Dr Lo Chung-mau, who suggests the smoking population has decreased because of the necessity of wearing masks in public places.

"Over the last three years, the masks have helped us not only by controlling Covid-19, but also in reducing the number of smokers," he said.

How does that even make sense?

The government echoes his sentiment in this FAQ about wearing masks in public:

"Smokers are more likely to touch their mask and face with their hands during smoking, leading to increased chance of infection. Besides, smoking damages lungs and weakens immunity. Smokers who have contracted Covid-19 are more likely to develop severe complications. We appeal to members of the public to avoid smoking in public places, and to quit smoking whenever possible."

What a reason to quit smoking -- I couldn't light up cause I had to wear a mask outside.

Hong Kong's Splashy Welcome

Were TVB dancers recruited to kick off the presentation?

Hong Kong's back, baby!

That's what the Hong Kong government wants the world to know.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has just launched a HK$2 billion (US$255.2 million) campaign called "Hello Hong Kong" where 500,000 free airline tickets will be given away along with free welcome drinks at select bars and restaurants across the city. One would assume champagne and cocktails, not Hong Kong-style milk tea at a cha chaan teng...

Lee all smiles in launching HK$2B campaign

At the kick-off event held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dane Cheng Ting-yat, head of the Tourism Board, also boasted some 250 events will be held in the city, including Clockenflap, Rugby Sevens, and Art Basel.

The Tourism Board will also give away 1 million vouchers for welcome drinks, discounts on attractions as well as food and drinks and transportation. Do they mean Uber or the Star Ferry?

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also talked about Hong Kong entering a new development phase.

"We are actively returning to normalcy. Nothing can stop us from bouncing back... We eagerly welcome friends from around the world to come, see and experience for themselves the vibrancy and dynamics of our city."

He also says the government will provide accurate information about Hong Kong to the world as people overseas might have misunderstandings about the city.

"We will try our best to explain," Chan says, adding he wants visitors to come and "feel Hong Kong's loveable sides".

Where's the women in this stage?

Since when was the city cuddly?

More importantly how can the government erase the stark 2019 images of police with batons hitting protesters holding up umbrellas, and officers shooting rounds of teargas? With over 300,000 people leaving Hong Kong for the United Kingdom alone in the last two years, surely it's a sign they cannot live in their own hometown anymore, while some 1,300 political prisoners are still languishing in jail.

But this is the Chinese way of doing things -- moving on and pretending it never happened, wallpapering over the problem in the hopes no one remembers.

Will this flashy campaign actually work? It depends on who the government wants to target. There are those who have missed coming to Hong Kong for three years, while others have yet to discover the place.

Those who have recently visited tell me it feels different from before, but can't quite put their finger on it. They know the city has been hit hard by Covid-19, but don't really know or understand how the national security law has dismantled the city as they knew it before.

But hey -- no need to worry about that now, Hong Kong's back, baby!

Cardinal Zen to Fly to Rome, Chinese Raring to Party in HK

Zen allowed to travel to Rome to attend former pope's funeral

A bit of good news coming out of Hong Kong -- the courts have allowed Cardinal Joseph Zen to fly to Rome to attend the funeral of former pope Benedict at the Vatican.

Zen's lawyers made the application in a closed-door hearing at West Kowloon Court, asking for the former bishop's passport so that he could attend the unprecedented funeral that will be held on Thursday morning local time.

Former pope Benedict passed away on Saturday in a monastery on December 31 at the age of 95. He was the first pope in almost 600 years to resign citing failing health. He stepped down in 2013 after succeeding John Paul II in 2005.

Zen's application met no objections in court

It is understood that Principal Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen, one of the jurists approved by Hong Kong's Chief Executive to oversee national security proceedings, had allowed Zen to travel between Wednesday and Sunday, after the prosecution raised no objection.

When Zen returns to Hong Kong he must surrender his passport to the police. He is believed to be the first person arrested on suspicion of a national security law offence to be allowed to travel while under investigation.

Wonder if Zen will be able to meet with Pope Francis to talk? 

It's a slim hope...

Meanwhile China is not pleased that other countries have imposed negative Covid-19 tests on its citizens when they travel to places like Canada, Australia, the United States, Italy, and Malaysia to name a few.

China claims it may retaliate.

However, anyone travelling to China needs to show a negative polymerase chain reaction or PCR test, so what's the difference?

Chinese Blackpink fans eager to see them in HK

Nevertheless, it looks like many Chinese residents will travel to Hong Kong to party.

Many have snapped up tickets way above the listed price to see South Korean girl group Blackpink, who will be performing at Asia-World Expo from January 13-15. Tickets were sold out within two hours in November and many were being resold by scalpers. 

One ticket bought for HK$2,999 (US$383,60) is now on sale for HK$25,000, which includes a seat that is 13 rows from the stage and VIP access to the group's pre-show rehearsal and other benefits.

Others are keen to attend the music festival Clockenflap that was unable to hold shows for three years. The three-day event will now be staged in early March (previously it was in mid-November). 

Mando-pop stars JJ Lin and Jay Chou will also be having concerts in Hong Kong in March and August respectively.

And these are only the people who want to fly to Hong Kong to attend concerts. What about those eager to shop and eat?

Hope everyone there has their bivalent vaccine shots...