Letters | Hong Kong’s Covid-19 ‘partygate’ has a silver lining

Readers discuss the birthday party scandal, Cathay Pacific’s woes, the need for upright behaviour by public officials, and Hong Kong’s climate change efforts

Reading Time:3 minutes

People arrive to start their stay at the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre on Lantau Island on January 7. Photo: Martin Chan

Published: 2:30pm, 16 Jan 2022

They say every cloud has a silver lining. Since the rounding up of those who were part of the birthday party scandal, quarantine for close contacts has been reduced to 14 days. Is common sense finally beginning to prevail?

Catching Covid-19 is not a criminal offence, but those deemed close contacts are being subjected to a mental endurance test. To shut people into a small room and not allow them to leave for a long period of time subjects them to a stressful ordeal, possibly leading to mental trauma.

Residents told to come forward because of a Covid-19 case being found in their vicinity know full well what lies ahead of them. It is certainly not a temporary, relaxing stay at a holiday camp with entertainment and good food thrown in.

The name Penny’s Bay sends a chill of fear down most people’s spines given the horrific tales circulating from previous inmates. Instead of our partygoers shamelessly pointing the finger of blame at others for the plight in which they now find themselves, perhaps they should try to redeem themselves in the eyes of the public by demanding much-needed improvements to our quarantine facilities so the mental health of those at Penny’s Bay is safeguarded instead of being ignored.

With first-hand experience and time on their hands to give it careful thought, I am optimistic their proposals will benefit the rest of us and encourage people to immediately come forward rather than to contemplate how to evade detection.

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Inside Hong Kong's mandatory coronavirus quarantine camp at Penny's Bay

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific deserves better. We should be thanking its staff for their efforts to keep us connected instead of hunting for reasons to cripple the company.