Zhou Bajun analyses central govt officials' responses to false assumptions in Hong Kong and emphasizes concerted efforts are crucial in battling COVID-19

The "black revolution" that has lasted for more than half a year has brought separatism in Hong Kong to a new level. Even some prominent members of the pro-establishment camp regard the undertaking of quelling violence and riots as being purely an internal affair of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, suggesting that the central government need not exercise its power to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities. Under such political circumstances, some people even believe that COVID-19 epidemic control and prevention is purely a matter of "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong", which falls within the scope of the city's high degree of autonomy.

Such false assumptions have attracted responses from two central government officials. Xie Feng, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in the HKSAR, explained at a news conference on Feb 7 that China's top-down governance model is incredibly effective in mobilizing scientists, medical professionals and resources to put the number of infections under control, and the fact that volunteers and enterprises rushed to the aid of Wuhan has taken humanity to the center stage in this combat against the coronavirus. Thirteen days later, on Feb 20, Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, wrote a letter to Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in which he expounded on the guidance from the central government in the battle against the COVID-19 epidemic.

In his letter, Luo said the Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and CPPCC are elites and leaders who form the backbone of the pro-establishment camp, and hence they carry more responsibilities than an ordinary citizen does. As both Hong Kong and the mainland are experiencing difficult moments, Luo called for concerted efforts of various sectors of Hong Kong to win the battle against the novel coronavirus: in particular, the medical sector, to keep its high morale while it is combating the epidemic at the front line; the industrial and commercial sectors, to look after their employees and stakeholders; the media sector, to root for the SAR government and the community in undertaking disease prevention and control initiatives and to help create positive energy throughout the city; and last but not least, other sectors, to do their part in contributing to the disease control and prevention.

Since it is an open letter, many of the messages it carries are targeting the general populace in Hong Kong, as well as the Hong Kong deputies to the NPC and members of the CPPCC.

Luo acknowledged the moral and material support given by all sectors of the Hong Kong community to their mainland compatriots. He also noted the central government's care and attention for Hong Kong people, even when the mainland itself was at its most difficult time. He noted that 17 million mainland-produced face masks had been shipped to Hong Kong after the outbreak of the epidemic, and that the central government authorities also had done their utmost to attend to Hong Kong residents living on the mainland as well as to ensure the supply of daily necessities to Hong Kong. Measures such as suspending the issuance of travel permits have also been introduced to align with the SAR government's initiative to curb cross-border personnel flow.

In response to the medical staff strike mobilized by the anti-China and anti-Communist forces with the aim of coercing the SAR government into shutting down the ports of entry between Hong Kong and the mainland, Luo pointed out: "Instead of political tricks, Hong Kong needs solidarity and science at this crucial point in the anti-epidemic fight.

"If a small group of people, with only their own political gains in mind, continue to create confrontation in this difficult time, even resorting to strikes, their acts, in a way, are likened to a novel coronavirus spreading in politics," Luo added.

Luo asserted that calm and rationality, instead of panic, were needed at this point of time. In response to the panic-buying scenes in Hong Kong, he reaffirmed the mainland's full support to the HKSAR in fighting the novel coronavirus, noting that mainland-funded businesses and relevant departments are working at full speed to stabilize the goods supply in the Hong Kong market. As long as the ports of entry are open, various goods will continue to be transported to Hong Kong, including rice, oil, flour, fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, disinfectants and tissues, he promised.

As a result of the increasingly rampant advocacy of separatism in Hong Kong, some people in Hong Kong blamed the mainland for causing the epidemic, and embraced the selfish mindset of "minding our own business" in the prevention and control of the disease. Luo remarked that it was a time for solidarity rather than pointing fingers at your neighbors. It is understandable that one cares for himself or herself in the wake of the epidemic, but no one can fight this battle alone. "It is the novel coronavirus that should be isolated, rather than people's hearts. Although the hard-hit regions on the mainland and Hong Kong are geographically apart, our hearts are united in this battle against the epidemic. Blood is thicker than water; we simply cannot watch from the sidelines when the other side is in peril." Luo believes that those who took the chance to sow hatred and create divisions between the two sides will eventually be exposed and lose public support, and that more and more Hong Kong compatriots will agree that no one can remain solitary for long, and that Hong Kong should not be isolated.

It is worth noting that while Luo is assertive in his belief, he carefully distinguishes between different types of conflicts between Hong Kong and the mainland. The conflicts created by anti-China and anti-Communist forces such as the medical staff strike are antagonistic in nature, and thus they are likened to "spreading a novel coronavirus in politics". He is more lenient toward some Hong Kong residents' irrational and panicky behavior, as well as their naivety in believing that they can fight the battle against the epidemic alone, assuring them that as long as the ports of entry are open, various goods will continue to be transported to Hong Kong, including rice, oil, flour, fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, disinfectant and tissues.

Luo prescribed a "three C's" recipe for a victory over COVID-19, asserting that confidence, compassion and concerted efforts are the most essential elements for overcoming the epidemic.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.