Liu Guangyuan

Opinion | Omicron crisis: how solidarity and cooperation will help Hong Kong beat the fifth wave, and emerge stronger

The city will triumph in its fight against Covid-19 with the robust support of the central government and the combined efforts of everyone in the city, to usher in a period of stability and prosperity

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Liu Guangyuan

Published: 6:45am, 23 Mar 2022

A new wave of Covid-19 infections, caused by the Omicron variant, has been sweeping the globe since the start of 2022, and Hong Kong is in the thick of its battle with the virus. The fight is Hong Kong’s overriding mission and a matter of deep concern for the central government and all mainland compatriots.

As Covid-19 caseloads reached new heights in Hong Kong, President Xi Jinping issued decisive instructions that the local government should prioritise quelling the contagion, mobilise all available resources and take all necessary measures to ensure people’s health, and the stability of society. It showed the way for Hong Kong to turn the tide and instilled confidence into the public.

“Life first” is the abiding tenet. Throughout the pandemic, China has put lives and livelihood above anything else. It has pulled out all the stops to protect people’s safety and health, exemplifying China’s people-centred approach to human rights.

Some have argued that a global metropolis should “live with the virus”, yet that is divorced from the reality of a densely populated city with high mobility and a serious ageing issue. Hong Kong cannot afford to “lie flat” or the runaway virus will surely spiral out of control, ruining people’s lives and grinding the city to a halt.

Survival is the fundamental human right. Professor Liang Wannian, head of the team of mainland health experts in Hong Kong, has stressed that reducing infections, severe cases and deaths is Hong Kong’s top priority at this stage, and that the best effort must be made to protect human life.

Honouring the elderly and caring for the young is a traditional Chinese virtue, and it is exactly what Hong Kong, a highly responsible society, has been practising amid this pandemic.