01 perspective
Written by: Comment Editor
2020-03-04 07:00
Last updated: 2020-03-04 07:00In response to a new outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia (commonly known as Wuhan pneumonia), the Jockey Club announced on February 4 that service at 101 off-street betting outlets in Hong Kong will cease. After one month, 17 off-course betting centres of the Jockey Club will reopen on Monday (2nd) and provide limited services, including redemption of cash coupons or lotteries, opening of betting accounts and deposits of betting accounts. Although the betting service continues to be suspended, the reopening of the first day has attracted a large number of people waiting in line. Nearly 300 people queued outside multi-zone betting stations in Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, and Mong Kok. People waited in line for about two hours to enter.
On Monday (2nd), the Jockey Club reopened 17 off-street betting outlets for cash coupons or lottery tickets. As only a limited number of customers were allowed to enter the venue at the same time, there were crowds in many areas. (Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
Hong Kong ’s epidemic prevention wins Macau?
The Jockey Club only allows a limited number of people to enter the betting station at the same time. They must wear a mask and take their temperature before they can use the Jockey Club service. However, during the epidemic, a large number of people gathered outside the Jockey Club for a long time to stay, and the situation was also cause for concern.
"Horse Run" is very important to many Hong Kong people. Of course, society expects betting stations to reopen. However, compared with Macau, where the entertainment and gambling industry is the lifeblood, there have been no new confirmed cases for the fifteenth consecutive day when Macau casinos reopened. Based on the general incubation period of new pneumonia for fourteen days, Macau ’s reopening of casinos has its scientific rationale to support it. In the early stage of the Macau casino reopening, only 41 of the 41 were reopened, and the number of gaming tables was less than 30% of the original, and there would not be too many people.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club's reopening background is different. After the Jockey Club stopped its service indefinitely on February 4, the number of confirmed patients in Hong Kong rose from 18 at the time to 101 on Monday (March 2). According to Macau standards, it is still too early for Hong Kong to reopen betting stations. Even because of the crowded streets in Hong Kong, the space of the Jockey Club betting stations can not be compared with the Macau casinos. The first limited opening of the Jockey Club on Monday has gathered a large number of people. On the first day of reopening, it is more crowded than the current Macau casinos. From the long line of events at the Jockey Club, society should reflect on whether Hong Kong should reopen the betting station now compared to the results of no new diagnoses in Macau for more than 27 consecutive days.
▼ Reopening of betting platoon on the first day ▼
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Vaccination cannot be taken lightly
Even if they reopen, society cannot be taken lightly. There are many horse fans and fans in Hong Kong, and people outside the betting stations line up to "play snake cakes." Some people in the queue thought that the Jockey Club only opened 17 betting stations, and it was too few for two days a week. Only five windows in the station also caused the queue to take time. The Jockey Club only opens a small number of counters and limits the number of people in the station. The original intention was to prevent too many people from gathering inside the station and causing cross infection in the confined space. This is also for the health of citizens. Helpless betting stations reopened on the first day, and the number of citizens gathered. Instead, a lot of people lined up outside the station.
At present, the epidemic prevention situation in Hong Kong is not as good as that in Macao. There are still different confirmed cases every day. At present, gambling should be put in a later position. The public should understand that the epidemic is highly infectious, and there have been cases of asymptomatic infection in the past. Before the end of the incubation period of 14 days, we must not take it lightly. Although the practice of the Jockey Club has its shortcomings, if the public finds that there are already a large number of people outside the Jockey Club, it is still appropriate for the citizens to handle the Internet, or use the Jockey Club service on another day. After all, the best bet is health.
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01 perspective
Wuhan Pneumonia New Crown Pneumonia Hong Kong Jockey Club Jockey Club Betting Station 01 Viewpoint
