Mistrust Hampers Hong Kong’s Battle to Hold Back China Virus
- Lam faces repeat of twin crisis that forced out predecessor
- Health workers threaten strike over fears of mainland visitors
People wait in line to purchase protective masks at a Watsons store in Hong Kong.
Photographer: Paul Yeung/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Hong Kong was always going to face a huge challenge holding back a disease outbreak raging in mainland China. Deep mistrust built up over seven months of protests in the city is making that task even harder.
As new cases of a deadly new corona virus mounted this week, Chief Executive Carrie Lam was forced to cancel plans to turn a newly built housing estate into a quarantine facility after protesters set fire to the lobby. She’s denied rumors that the government was blocking shipments of surgical masks and found her efforts to dramatically curtail visits by mainlanders panned by health workers, as well as lawmakers.