Watching Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng’s press conference on TDM at home yesterday reaffirmed the conviction that I reached during his election campaign last year that he is the right man in the right place at the right time.
Ho was calm, cool-headed, convincing and clear when he addressed all of us about the dangerous novel coronavirus threat and his decision to close all casinos and other entertainment venues for half a month. I also found his arguments for not closing Macau’s border checkpoints reasonable and convincing. How could a tiny city as ours that has one of the world’s highest population densities, no agriculture and little manufacturing seal off its borders without inviting disaster?
After the press conference and before starting work in my newspaper office I talked to quite a number of people about their impression of our new chief executive’s press conference. I only heard praise and appreciation. Well done, indeed, Mr.Ho.
I also only have praise for his team of policy secretaries, bureau directors and other senior officials involved in the battle against the virus, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U and Health Bureau (SSM) Director Lei Chin Ion in particular.Their performance at the government’s daily press conference has been quite impressive– and they got the right attitude towards transparency that is so vital in overcoming this viral menace.
I am confident that Ho and his team can win the battle against the virus. What we all need is to have confidence in our leaders and to stay positive and optimistic. The last thing we need is defeatism and rumour mongers. In fighting the virus with a cool head we can also show self-destructive Hong Kong how things can be done the right way. The current strike by medical staff in Hong Kong is absolutely irresponsible – to put it mildly.
And one more thing: the novel coronavirus is not a “China virus” or a “virus made in China” as claimed by some Western media – it is a virus that happened to emerge in Wuhan. It could have appeared anywhere else in the world. Racism must not be allowed to rear its ugly head again (more about this nasty phenomenon on Page 8 of our print edition today). The new viral threat is much too serious for such balderdash.
Harald Brüning
