[New Coronary Pneumonia] Principles for Returning stranded Hong Kongers

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Written by: Comment Editor

2020-04-01 18:00

Following the government's return of Hong Kong residents stranded in Hubei and the Princess Diamond, the government also stated that it would arrange a special plane to return to Hong Kong with stranded Peruvians. With the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), will this demand continue? The difficulty of receiving Hong Kong people from different places and returning to Hong Kong is not the same, and the plans and arrangements may be different. The government must have principles and plans.

Affected by the epidemic, Peru was closed from March 16 to 30. Sea, land, and air transportation of international passengers was suspended. During this period, dozens of Hong Kong people were affected locally, and local stranded people died of new crown pneumonia. As of noon on this Tuesday (31st), the Immigration Department has received a total of 91 calls for help from stranded Peruvian Hong Kong residents. However, earlier in Hong Kong, the community was hesitant to launch a government charter flight to take back Peruvian Hong Kong people.

There are two main arguments against the return of Peruvian Hong Kong people. One is political reasons. NPC Chairman and Member of the Legislative Council Ye Liu Shuyi accepted the inquiry of "Hong Kong 01" and bluntly said that the Blue Camp was dissatisfied with some stranded Peruvian Hong Kong people displaying the "Recovery of Hong Kong" flag in the local area. I'm going to help the British Embassy. " The second reason is that some citizens believe that some Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru set out to travel in March regardless of the risk of the epidemic. They are selfish and must pay for their own actions, rather than letting the society share their willful consequences.

Peru is in a state of emergency with soldiers on the street. (Profile picture / provided by interviewees)

Abandon political prejudice

After the epidemic, governments of all countries have called for not to politicize the virus. The borderlessness of the epidemic is a common hurdle for human society and should be worked together. Therefore, when considering whether to repatriate Hong Kong people from other places, one should not make emotions based on the other's political position and make judgments. As for some people, it is considered that stranded Hong Kong people should be responsible for their own behavior, we must consider the methods and timing. When the stranded Hong Kong people are facing threats to their lives and health, we cannot decide not to reach out just by speculating their motives for staying abroad. The authorities can pick them up first, but they have to pay for them at their own expense; or they can make separate rules to collect money from Hong Kong people who want to be returned by the government regardless of going out.

Whether or not to repatriate Hong Kong residents outside Hong Kong should not be based on the character or political stance of the recipient, but should also be based on the feasibility and protection of individual safety. For example, there are no direct flights between Peru and Hong Kong, and it is much more difficult to arrange the return of Peruvian porters than the return of stranded people in Hubei. However, it is not completely unfeasible. The Taiwan side had overcome the difficulties early and received two batches of Taiwanese tourists stranded in Peru. The second charter flight also has a seat on the way, "Stop" to pick up 84 passengers stranded in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the United States. Therefore, this incident also reminds the Hong Kong Government of the need to increase its action capacity in this regard.

As the epidemic situation becomes more serious, cases of overseas Hong Kong people seeking help will continue to occur. Today, Morocco, which has no direct flights from Hong Kong to North Africa, has locked its country due to the epidemic, leaving 37 Hong Kong people trapped. With regard to such help-seeking issues that will occur in the future, Hong Kong society and the government have increased their abilities to abandon political prejudices and adhere to the people-oriented principle.

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