The fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong continues to rage, and the mainland's support for Hong Kong is gradually launched.
Last night (February 10), the spokesperson of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council spoke out on the Hong Kong epidemic for the first time in the form of "answering reporters' questions", sending at least three signals: first, Hong Kong must adhere to the epidemic prevention policy of "dynamic clearing"; second, although The epidemic prevention situation in Hong Kong is severe, but the system design of "one country, two systems" must still be followed. Third, the central government has made arrangements, but the turning point of the epidemic in Hong Kong is unpredictable.
The fifth wave of the epidemic continues to rage in Hong Kong, with an average of more than 1,000 new confirmed cases per day in the past three days.
(Photo by Liao Yanxiong)
First of all, Hong Kong must adhere to the epidemic prevention policy of "dynamic clearing".
In response to a reporter's question, a spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said, "The central government will continue to fully support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government in adhering to the concept of people first and life first, and in accordance with the goal and strategy of 'dynamic clearing', to jointly prevent and control the new crown pneumonia epidemic. work that spreads.”
In the past period of time, under different frames of reference and psychological expectations, two voices have gradually formed in Hong Kong society: one believes that Hong Kong should follow the mainland's practice of epidemic prevention and insist on "dynamic clearing", so as to maximize the lives of 7 million Hong Kong people. Property is safe, and the mainland's epidemic prevention policy has been proven to be "effective" and recognized by the mainland people; another point of view is that Hong Kong will eventually have to "coexist with the virus", and a complete "zero" is no longer possible. actual.
This time, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office once again clarified the goal and strategy of "dynamic clearing", which is intended to settle disputes and end disputes, build social consensus, and protest together.
Last night (February 10), the spokesperson of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council spoke out on the Hong Kong epidemic for the first time in the form of "answering reporters' questions".
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Second, despite the severe epidemic prevention situation in Hong Kong, the system design of "one country, two systems" must still be followed.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said in a question from reporters, "In times of crisis, the motherland will always be a strong backer for Hong Kong. As long as Hong Kong asks, the motherland will certainly respond. The living materials of Hong Kong citizens will be guaranteed in a timely and sufficient manner." In addition, "Our office actively coordinates the Guangdong Provincial People's Government to coordinate the joint prevention and control of the epidemic between Guangdong and Hong Kong and ensure the transportation of cross-border materials to ensure the supply of vegetables, fresh food and other daily necessities to Hong Kong. The Guangdong Provincial People's Government and Shenzhen The people's government is anxious for the needs of the Hong Kong compatriots and has made many special arrangements for this."
"As long as Hong Kong asks, the motherland will meet it" - the meaning could not be more clear, that is: in supporting Hong Kong's epidemic prevention, the model of the mainland will not be adopted. The "demand" of the mainland comes first, and then the "response" from various aspects of the mainland.
In the past period of time, many people in Hong Kong have called on the mainland to take action quickly, but Beijing still maintains sufficient strategic determination. Just like the "turbulence of amendments to the bill" in 2019, the more the time of crisis, the more it needs to follow "one country, two systems".
Tian Feilong, associate professor of the Law School of Beihang University and director of the National Hong Kong and Macau Research Association, recently wrote an article on this matter, saying that "one country, two systems" has determined that the central government cannot directly take over or direct orders, but can only provide human and material support.
However, just like the failure of the West to fight the epidemic was not due to the lack of human and material resources, the central government's resource support for Hong Kong will hardly change the basic system and values of Hong Kong's fight against the epidemic, and it is difficult to bridge the gap highlighted by the "two systems".
The fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong will undoubtedly test and test the governance capabilities of the Hong Kong governance team in a comprehensive and systematic manner.
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Third, the central government has made arrangements, but the inflection point of the epidemic in Hong Kong is unpredictable.
In its speech, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said, "According to the relevant decisions and deployments of the central government, our office will hold the second meeting on the topic of COVID-19 between the Mainland and Hong Kong with the National Health Commission and the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Shenzhen in the near future. Relevant officials from the Guangdong Provincial People's Government, the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, and relevant mainland experts in epidemic prevention will jointly study, formulate and implement policies and measures to support Hong Kong's prevention and control of the epidemic, ensure the supply of materials to Hong Kong, and maintain the overall social stability of Hong Kong."
Based on the reality of Hong Kong - big data tracking cannot be carried out, large-scale comprehensive testing cannot be carried out, the existing medical resources are in short supply, and only the "stay safe and anti-epidemic" model can be activated simultaneously. Although the central government has made arrangements, the inflection point of the epidemic in Hong Kong is still There is a lot of uncertainty, so the goal of this Shenzhen epidemic exchange meeting is to "jointly study, formulate and implement policies and measures to support Hong Kong's prevention and control of the epidemic, ensure the supply of materials to Hong Kong, and maintain the overall stability of Hong Kong's society."
According to calculations made by a team from the Department of Biomedicine of the City University of Hong Kong using mathematical models, the fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong may infect about 250,000 people, and the current round of epidemics will peak at the end of February or March.
Although it is not known when the turning point of the epidemic will come, the fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong will undoubtedly test and test the governance ability of the Hong Kong governance team in a comprehensive and systematic manner, and will determine whether Hong Kong can integrate into the overall development of the country, and whether it can truly change from chaos to governance, By the rule and Xing.