Speakers
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Prof. Anthony B. L. CHEUNG, GBS, JP Research Chair Professor of Public Administration, APS, EdUHK Adjunct Professor, PPOL, HKUST Former Secretary for Transport and Housing, HKSARG |
Prof. Hong FUNG, JP Professor of Practice in Health Services Management, JCSPHPC, CUHK |
Prof. Xun WU Professor, PPOL, HKUST Associate Director, Interdisciplinary Programs Office (IPO), HKUST |
COVID-19 is not only the most savage health crisis in a century, but it also poses a devastating threat to the global economy. Two years after the outbreak, there is still no consensus about the optimal solution to the pandemic. Nevertheless, some societies in Asia and Oceania have apparently performed better than other places in controlling the disease. Recently, as mass vaccination has been accomplished in several countries, “co-existence” rather than “zero-tolerance” has been adopted as an exit strategy. On 15 January 2022, Prof. CHEUNG, Prof. FUNG, and Prof. WU offered policy suggestions, comparing the performances of anti-COVID strategies between Hong Kong and the rest of the world.
Prof. CHEUNG commented that shutting down saves lives but is costly while staying open maintains normal life but is risky. In many societies, whether choosing “co-existence” or “zero-tolerance” as an anti-COVID strategy remains an ongoing debate and depends on changing circumstances. He pointed out that this health crisis has revealed the importance of crisis management and governmental leadership. Independently of political structures, competent state machinery, a trusted government, and effective leadership are necessary components for a successful anti-COVID strategy. In terms of infections and deaths, Hong Kong has performed better than the rest of the world. He argued, however, that public trust is insufficient in Hong Kong. Therefore, the government should improve its crisis leadership and communication.
Prof. FUNG first suggested that COVID-19 is not only a pandemic but also a syndemic because it involves both biological and social interaction. Ethnic minorities, migrant workers, the poor, the elderly, and chronically ill people are groups suffering the most. From a health-care perspective, he urged more investment in public health, financial and social assistance for vulnerable groups, timely decision-making with a “whole of government” approach, and better global cooperation. In addition to enhancing the vaccination rate, he recommended the “Swiss Chess Pandemic Defence” strategy where multiple layers of personal and social efforts are required because each intervention (layer) has imperfections (holes). Last but not least, he expected digitalization to become necessary to make the health-care system more flexible and agile.
Professor WU first indicated that it is difficult simultaneously to achieve mainland border re-openings and removal of the travel ban for all non-residents as well as easing quarantine requirements. Differences in political systems, institutional cultures, implementation capacities, and levels of global linkages between mainland China and Hong Kong make removing the travel ban on all non-residents a more realistic goal. He suggested that Hong Kong should draw lessons from Singapore. Singapore has accomplished high vaccination rates across groups by fighting fake news, persuading the elderly, making vaccines widely accessible, and imposing restrictions on the unvaccinated. Therefore, Singapore can shift toward a more balanced “co-existence” strategy with fewer travel restrictions. Nevertheless, he remarked that social distancing is still being implemented in Singapore. Lastly, he emphasized that the keys to re-opening Hong Kong are building public support, overcoming vaccine hesitancy, making tracing apps mandatory, imposing social distancing, and strengthening healthcare facilities.
To summarize, an optimal Covid-19 strategy should balance the tradeoff between public health protection and normal life. This requires effective crisis management and government leadership, joint efforts by actors across society, greater investment in public health, learning from the experiences of other societies, and a practical approach to re-opening Hong Kong.
(From left): Prof. Hong FUNG, Prof. Anthony Bing-leung. CHEUNG, Prof. Xun WU
COVID-19 is not only the most savage health crisis in a century, but it also poses a devastating threat to the global economy. Two years after the outbreak, there is still no consensus about the optimal solution to the pandemic. Nevertheless, some societies in Asia and Oceania have apparently performed better than other places in controlling the disease. Recently, as mass vaccination has been accomplished in several countries, “co-existence” rather than “zero-tolerance” has been adopted as an exit strategy. On 15 January 2022, Prof. CHEUNG, Prof. FUNG, and Prof. WU offered policy suggestions, comparing the performances of anti-COVID strategies between Hong Kong and the rest of the world.