Hong Kong government's anti-epidemic encounters a big test Tian Feilong: coexisting with the virus is betraying the country

Affected by the Omicron variant virus, the fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong has lasted for more than a month.

Various signs show that the epidemic prevention strategy of the SAR government, which claims to be able to "prevent import from outside, and prevent proliferation from within", is misnamed and full of loopholes. As a result, the number of confirmed cases has hit record highs in recent days, and people in the city are panicking and even on the verge of getting out of control.

Tian Feilong, associate professor of the Law School of Beihang University and director of the National Association for Hong Kong and Macau Studies, criticized the Hong Kong government for lacking feelings for the people in an exclusive interview with "Hong Kong 01" recently. Failure to strictly implement the principle and mechanism of "dynamic clearing" eventually led to today's situation.

He reminded that "dynamic clearing" is the most beneficial choice for Hong Kong. The SAR government needs to think through the pain and align with the mainland's epidemic prevention standards and the national system in order to clear the virus as soon as possible and lead Hong Kong out of the predicament.

Recently, there have been discussions on different epidemic prevention strategies in the society. Some people think that the Omicron variant virus is highly contagious but the symptoms are mild, making it difficult to be watertight. In addition, many countries and regions have gradually relaxed epidemic prevention restrictions and opened up to the outside world in order to save the economy. Whether Hong Kong must insist on "dynamic clearing"?

Tian Feilong said that "dynamic clearing" is ideal and scientific, and it is the only solution that can be coordinated with the national system. "Other solutions and paths may temporarily help Hong Kong to "lie down" and relieve the fatigue of fighting the epidemic, and clear customs with Europe and the United States. , but in the long run, it will make Hong Kong's transformation, integration and development of "one country, two systems" pay an ever-increasing long-term price."

Tian Feilong explained that the choice of the epidemic prevention strategy involves Hong Kong's economy and people's livelihood, as well as the basic interests of Hong Kong. In the end, it is consistent with the country's anti-epidemic, integrated development, seeking positioning and development within the framework of "one country, two systems", or laissez-faire coexistence with the virus? Connecting with Europe and the United States, and thus drifting away from the country, and paying a very high strategic price for not being able to integrate into the country.

Because if it coexists with the virus and cannot clear customs clearance with the mainland, it means that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the northern metropolitan area, these strategies that are very critical to Hong Kong's development during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Hong Kong will be dragged back, To be left behind, it is not only politically incorrect, but also incorrect in people's livelihood, and the loss of strategic opportunities.

Tian Feilong believes that from the perspective of epidemic prevention and control, the Hong Kong governance team has not met the requirements of "firm patriots".

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Hong Kong has been caught in a dilemma in its fight against the epidemic. The epidemic is undoubtedly a big test for the Hong Kong governance team.

In July last year, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, mentioned in his speech on the first anniversary of the implementation of the National Security Law that governing Hong Kong is no easy task.

He put forward five conditions to encourage the rulers, including fully implementing the "one country, two systems" policy, resolving all kinds of contradictions and problems, doing practical things for the people, uniting the forces of all parties, and fulfilling their duties and being a responsible patriot.

Judging from the performance of this epidemic prevention and control, has the Hong Kong governance team fulfilled these five requirements?

In Tian Feilong's view, the answer is no.

He pointed out that the AO parties (political officials) had illusions about customs clearance with the West and hoped to stay in the original comfort zone. Second, in the early days of the outbreak, the government did not make emergency plans during the siege, and there was a situation where food supply was cut off, and even elderly people died of loneliness, and the team of civil servants was not well organized. Investing in the frontline of epidemic prevention "confirms that the Hong Kong rulers have not truly fulfilled their feelings for the people"...

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For details, please read the 304th issue of "Hong Kong 01" Electronic Weekly (February 14, 2022) "