01 perspective
Written by: Comment Editor
2020-03-24 16:00
Last updated: 2020-03-24 16:00As the epidemic spreads, more and more people are hoping to reduce the gathering of citizens by restricting the operation of restaurants and recreational establishments. Stakeholders objected because they did not want their interests to be damaged, which was to be expected, but some even questioned the effectiveness of epidemic prevention in restricting food and beverages, no doubt just pretending to be flat and hypocritical. If they really think about social epidemic prevention, they should let go of the narrow thinking and excuses of vested interests.
The game of vested interests can be described as common, but it is still the case in times of crisis, but it is a major obstacle to epidemic prevention and saving the economy. For example, U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a new crown pneumonia emergency economic assistance program totaling $ 2 trillion. Among them, the "large-scale company rescue plan" is the most controversial. The Republican Party plans to provide more than $ 208 billion in loans to large companies such as airlines. However, it is unknown how to ensure that the funds are used properly, or to repeat the mistakes of the 2008 financial tsunami, "fat up and lose weight" in the name of saving the market and ignore workers' rights.
Even though Democrats criticized the interests of partial merchants and opposed the suggestion of new collective bargaining rights, the Republican government still did not reach a consensus. The plan ended on Monday (March 23) with 49 votes in favor and 46 votes against by the Senate. What's more, this kind of narrow-minded stakeholders can be seen not only in Washington, where the bipartisan struggle is routine, but also in Hong Kong.
Chief Executive Lin Zheng Yue'e announced on March 23 that the law would suspend the sale of alcohol in bars. (Photo by Lu Yiming)
Catering industry questions epidemic prevention measures
Recently, an average of more than 30 newly diagnosed patients with new coronary pneumonia have been diagnosed in Hong Kong. Experts such as Liang Zhuowei and He Bailiang who came to the University of Hong Kong have repeatedly requested to control restaurants and pastimes to combat the public's desire to gather. However, some of the catering industry's stakeholders in Hong Kong disregard the situation of Hong Kong people and oppose it. Some of the reasons are more plausible. Lan Kwai Fong Group Chairman Sheng Zhiwen once said that if the government requires all restaurants, bars, theaters, etc. to suspend business, the livelihood of employees and their families will be severely affected. The wanton will not only have a huge impact on the industry and frontline employees, but also have a limited effect on stopping the spread of the epidemic.
To protect the interests of the industry, it may not be strange in Hong Kong, a capital society, but Sheng Zhiwen and Zhang Yuren, etc., even use prestigious reasons to even package vested interests with unscientific statements, and they really teach people how to look. The second wave of epidemics in Hong Kong is menacing. The first step in preventing epidemics must be to increase rather than reduce the social distance between people. Even if the restaurant is suspended, it is impossible to stop the epidemic immediately, but at least it is an effective method that is feasible in the society and can reduce the gathering of citizens, especially to reduce group infections. China and European and American countries restrict the business hours and modes of public entertainment and leisure places before and after, not only for scientific reasons, but also as a countermeasure for putting lives on the economy. Although this will sacrifice the interests of a certain industry, the public interest will undoubtedly obtain greater health protection. It is undoubtedly hypocritical for vested interests to turn a blind eye and even to question the effectiveness of their personal interests.
Of course, the government's control over the operation of the restaurant industry will further crack down on its livelihoods, which in turn will affect its employees and make Hong Kong's market even worse. However, the authorities are not without rescue measures. The anti-epidemic fund is as high as 30 billion yuan, and additional subsidies can be provided for measures such as controlling restaurants and bars, including paying some salaries of employees on behalf of proprietors. But even so, Zhang Yuren described similar measures as "fair to the catering industry and the bar to be fair on their own backs", which is not fair. The epidemic is raging in Hong Kong. Even if it is fortunately not infected, all industries, from the chief executive to the cleaning staff, are all affected by the economic downturn. The worst thing about the epidemic is not the virus, but the human fear and selfishness.
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