香港疫情反弹速度明显加快，新增确诊个案接连创出五个月以来的新高，日破万宗“指日可待”。在这种情况下，香港抗疫何去何从？特区政府有无完备的应对方案？什么情况下收紧限聚令？如何更有效推动与内地及国际通关？这些都是市民非常关切的问题，特区政府应该更加清晰地作出说明，这有利凝聚共识，共同打好这场抗疫持久战。

　　新冠疫情持续两年多，全球逾6亿人感染，数百万人死亡。病毒仍在不断变异，同时人们对疫情规律有了更多的认知，加上疫苗普及，各地抗疫策略也在不断地调整，形成不同路线。虽然侧重点有所不同，共同点都是力求在保护生命和保住民生方面做出平衡。

　　抗疫是科学，所有措施都要有科学数据作依据。现在人们基本上形成这样的共识，即确诊数字高低未必是重要的，确保医疗系统在任何情况下都能有效运作，才是最关键。香港在第五波疫情高峰期间伤亡纍纍，主因在于未做好应对准备。相比之下，新加坡的总体确诊人数比香港还多，但死亡人数较少，原因在于新加坡政府成竹在胸，对患者实行精准分类，未打针、已打针、打齐针的市民有不同的应对方案，确保医疗资源有效使用。正因为该国抗疫思路明确，方向清晰，不管疫情如何变化，市民都心中有底。

　　 鉴于香港疫情快速升温，医疗系统的压力与日俱增，保障此系统不致崩溃成为重大挑战。医管局日前启动第三级病床调配措施，预留了5000个床位，必须确保这些病床能及时使用。非紧急医疗服务因此被削减，保障有关病人的权益需有预案；分流长期病患，私家医院需要勇于分担。还有，并非所有家居都适合隔离，中央援建的方舱设施需要派上用场，还要考虑病人大量增加时有没有足够的照顾人手。这些都是抗疫重点，必须未雨绸缪。

　　看得出，香港不希望“一刀切”收紧限聚措施，不希望复常之路被打断，“精准抗疫”符合香港民情和实际情况。红码人士不得外出，黄码人士出入需要受到限制，尤其不能出席需要摘口罩的食肆等场所，这些看似简单，但落实起来并不容易，效果如何取决于市民的配合程度，更取决于政府是否严格执法，否则，再有效的制度也形同虚设。

　　是优先与国际通关，还是优先与内地通关，这是香港抗疫面对的现实问题。香港是国际金融中心，必须保持国际联系；另一方面，香港经济对内地的依存度更高，融入国家发展大局是前途之所繫。与国际、内地同时通关是最理想的，但在目前情况下，同时通关不切实际。内地抗疫政策非常清晰，如果香港持续是“高风险地区”，就会有疫情“倒灌”内地的问题。在这种情况下，香港要求内地增加通关名额就非常困难，恢复通关更是难以想像，这不利于香港的长远利益和根本利益。

　　鱼与熊掌难以兼得，世上没有完美抗疫策略。先有抗疫思路，后有如何取舍。在香港抗疫问题上，“香港有求，祖国必应”，这一点毫无疑义，但特区政府必须强化抗疫主体责任，必须有明确方向，争取市民支持，走出一条最符合香港实际情况、最能保障香港和国家利益的抗疫之路。坦率地说，这非常难。也正因为难，才是对特区政府管治能力的考验。 2022-08-26

Government must make up its mind about how to fight the virus and strengthen its main responsibility

Rebound in Hong Kong's epidemic situation is noticeably accelerating. The number of new confirmed cases keeps setting new highs since May, and it is　　just around the corner　　for the daily number to exceed 10,000. Given the circumstances, what should we do? Has the SAR Government a thorough coping plan? Under what circumstances will social distancing rules be tightened? What will the government do to more effectively push forward re-opening borders with the Mainland and other places? Such are issues citizens are deeply concerned with, and the SAR Government must give clearer explanations. This will help build consensus and join efforts to fight and win this protracted war against the Covid-19 virus.

The Covid-19 Pandemic has continued for over two years, with some 600 million people being infected globally and several million killed. The virus still keeps mutating. At the same time, humankind is gaining more knowledge about the rhythm of the epidemic and vaccination becoming increasingly popularised. Accordingly, various regions keep adjusting their anti-epidemic strategies to take different paths. Although the emphases may be different, there is one thing in common – that is to strike a balance between protecting human lives and maintaining people's livelihood.

Fighting the virus is a science, hence all measures must be based on scientific data. Now people have essentially formed such a consensus: whether the number of confirmed cases is higher or lower may not be so significant. What is most crucial is to ensure the effective operation of the health care system at any moment. The main reason for Hong Kong to suffer heavy casualties during the peak time of the fifth wave of the epidemic is because we had not been well prepared. By comparison, the total number of confirmed cases in Singapore is more than that in Hong Kong, but the death toll is smaller. The reason lies in that the Singapore government knows what to do. Patients are accurately categorised and those who are not vaccinated, who are vaccinated with one or two doses and who are fully vaccinated are treated discriminately, so as to ensure health care resources are used efficiently. It is because the island state has clear thinking and orientation in fighting the virus that its citizens know what to do no matter how the epidemic situation changes.

As the epidemic situation in Hong Kong is deteriorating dramatically, the pressure on the health care system increases day by day. It becomes a big challenge to make sure this system will not collapse. The Hospital Authority (HA) has earlier activated the Phase Three Bed Mobilisation Plan to reserve up to 5,000 beds for Covid-19 patients and ensure they would be available when needed. As some non-emergency services have to be curtailed accordingly, plans must be worked out to protect the rights of relevant patients. Chronically ill patients are triaged, and private hospitals should have the courage to share the burden. In addition, as not all homes are suitable for isolation, the mobile cabin facilities built with the Central Government's help now come in useful. It must also be taken into consideration that there may be a lack of caring personnel when the number of patients increases sharply. All these are focal points in our anti-epidemic campaign, and we must plan ahead.

It can be seen that Hong Kong does not want social distancing rules be tightened indiscriminately and the process to restore normal life be interrupted. "Fighting the virus with precision" is in accord with public sentiment and reality. Persons with a Red Code are banned from going out. Persons with an Amber Code are restricted in moving about, and particularly banned from entering places where masks have to be taken off, such as restaurants. Such measures are seemingly simple, but not easy to implement. Their effectiveness relies on how citizens would cooperate, and more on whether the government would strictly enforce them. Otherwise, the system, however effective it may sound, would remain in name only.

A realistic problem facing Hong Kong's anti-epidemic battle is whether priority should be given to opening its borders with the Mainland or with other parts of the world. As an international financial hub, Hong Kong must maintain its global connections. On the other hand, Hong Kong's economy is more dependent on the Mainland, and its future relies on its integration into the country's overall development. It is the most ideal to simultaneously open borders with both the Mainland and other places in the world, which however is unrealistic given the current situation. The Mainland's anti-epidemic policy is very unambiguous. If Hong Kong remains as a "high risk region", there will be a problem of the epidemic "flowing back" into the Mainland. In that case, it will be very difficult for Hong Kong to ask the Mainland for more entry quota for Hong Kong residents, and re-opening borders with the Mainland is even more unimaginable. This is not in favour of Hong Kong's long-term and fundamental interests.

One cannot has one's cake and eats it too. There is no perfect anti-epidemic strategy in the world. We must make up our mind in how to fight the virus before we can make our choice. As for Hong Kong's anti-epidemic battle, it is beyond doubt that "as long as Hong Kong asks, the Motherland will respond". But the SAR Government must strengthen its main responsibility in the battle and set a clear goal, so as to solicit citizens' support and create a way of fighting the virus that is best in keeping with Hong Kong's reality and protecting both Hong Kong's and the nation's interests. Frankly speaking, this is very difficult. Exactly because of this, it poses a test for the SAR Government's governance capability.

26 August 2022