[New Coronary Pneumonia] Two Wandering Cross-border Students Returning to Shenzhen to Be Forgotten | 01 Weekly

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Written by: Huang Shunyang

2020-07-13 17:00

The new coronary pneumonia epidemic has been repeated, and the students are affected. The class was suspended for half a year. It was difficult to resume classes in stages at the end of May. However, more than a month later, due to the rapid increase in infections in Japan, the summer vacation was required to be taken early. The most troublesome of them was the 2,500 people in Hong Kong until June 9. Cross-border students in grades 3 to 5 who received the notice of resumption of classes. Before the resumption of classes, the SAR Government has postponed the resumption of classes four times, causing the living expenses of cross-border families to lose their budgets. After the resumption of classes, when they thought that their lives had returned to normal, whether there was a “suspected” fever case on the day after the resumption of the class, or A community of unknown origin broke out recently, and some public opinion regards cross-border schoolchildren as "drug-spreading groups", demanding that the government immediately suspend classes and resume customs clearance-their isolation and fragility seem to have been forgotten under the epidemic.

A community of unknown origin has broken out recently, and some public opinion regards cross-border schoolchildren as "drug-spreading groups", demanding that the government immediately suspend classes and resume customs clearance. (Photo/Photo by Zhang Haowei)

Since the outbreak in February, the school’s resumption of classes has not been finalized until June 10, is the cross-border school resume time consistent with local students? What are the epidemic prevention arrangements on the day of resumption? If there is another case of infection, will it be postponed? The Hong Kong International Social Service Association (hereinafter referred to as the "International Society") has sent social workers and teachers to stay in Shenzhen in 2006 to provide support services for local cross-border students and families. Its director, Liao Jinfeng, found that many families of cross-border schoolchildren felt "helpless" and "wandering" about the government's "swinging" resumption arrangement. In the past six months, it was not only the families of cross-border students who were confused, but also local teachers and parents of students who were dissatisfied with the government's arrangements for resumption of classes.

Director Liao said that regardless of the North District’s house churches, principals’ associations, international community and cross-border children, they would have to wait until the government announced on June 10 to know the details of the resumption of classes. (Photo/Photo by Zhang Haowei)

"February (actually January 25) said that the class was suspended, saying that it would be suspended for two weeks (February 16), but after the suspension, they (cross-border students) would not come back? It was only at the last moment (the government) This will be extended for a few more weeks." Liao Jinfeng described the government's schedule for resuming classes as rushed and chaotic. For cross-border families, the government's "winds" for resuming classes are disrupting their plans for resuming classes. "Each cross-border family has a lot of things to prepare. When do students go out, where do they go, how long do they need to do quarantine in advance, they must find a way early." She continued, "It's not that you are a judge (resuming class), Just listen to the day (cross-border families)."

For cross-border families, every time the government resumes the "wind", it is disrupting their plans for resumption. (Photo/Photo by Zhang Haowei)

Can't afford the segregation fee to stay in Hong Kong

The parents of the cross-border diploma candidate A Yao lost a stable income during the epidemic. After completing the DSE exam, he was forced to "stay" in Hong Kong because he had no money to return to Shenzhen for isolation. "At the end of April (April 28), when I saw the news, I said that when I returned to Shenzhen, I would specify 14 days of isolation, and I would pay 300 yuan (RMB) per night for room and board, and it would cost more than 4,000 yuan in 14 days. I really don’t want to spend this money. money."

For "double non-cross-border students" such as A Yao who are "stayed" in Hong Kong, they often rely on "luck" to get support. At that time, the social workers of the international society came to the "candidate camp" to promote the "Community Fund and timely rain and anti-epidemic fund". Only then did he apply for a fund allowance of several thousand yuan for living expenses after leaving camp. He felt "helpless" when he could return to Shenzhen. The restoration of customs clearance by the mainland government is nowhere in sight, and the cost of applying for health codes in Hong Kong is expensive. Lin Social Worker, who is responsible for handling cross-border candidates, said, "The government has always paid little attention and attention to vulnerable groups such as cross-border students. In the end, it is up to them to solve it by themselves or a private spontaneous institution."

A Yao, who is currently "staying" in Hong Kong, said that even after the DSE was released, he still had no money to return to Shenzhen's home. (Profile picture/photo by Huang Baoying)

Quarantine measures between Hong Kong and Shenzhen contradict each other

This group of cross-border students seems to be forgotten by the government again in the epidemic. Since the government first announced the delayed resumption arrangement on January 25, until April 29, the Secretary for Education, Yang Runxiong, still stated that there is no detailed arrangement for the resumption of classes in primary and secondary schools. At the same time, we will consider the arrangement of cross-border schoolchildren" in response. On the issue of cross-border exemption testing, the Hong Kong government issued a contradictory measure with the Shenzhen government on April 28: the Hong Kong government announced that it would exempt compulsory quarantine arrangements for cross-border school children and business people who frequently travel to and from dry ports; on the same day, Shenzhen The port office issued a message requesting ordinary inbound passengers entering the Shenzhen port to focus on "segregation at their own expense" for 14 days. This lack of institutionality not only allowed Ayao, a cross-border candidate, to "stay" in Hong Kong, but also made cross-border families living in the gap between the two places more vulnerable under stigmatization.

Since the government first announced the postponement of class resumption arrangements on January 25, until April 29, the Secretary for Education Yang Runxiong stated that there are no detailed arrangements for the resumption of classes in primary and secondary schools. (Profile picture / Photograph by Gao Zhongming)

The above excerpt is from the 222th issue of "Hong Kong 01" Weekly Report (July 13, 2020) "Two Forgotten Cross-border School Children Returning to Shenzhen to be Forgotten". To read the full text, please click here to subscribe to the weekly report, or click here to preview the weekly e-newsletter for more in-depth reports.

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