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EOC Chairperson makes plea for greater empathy and solidarity in city’s fight against new coronavirus
In the latest episode of the programme Letter to Hong Kong broadcast on 1 February 2020 on Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Radio 1, EOC Chairperson Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin appealed to the public to stay level-headed and treat others with empathy, as Hong Kong braces itself for the risk of a community outbreak of the deadly new coronavirus.
“The more challenging the times, the greater the need for compassion,” said Mr Chu. “While the epidemic is causing anxiety in all of us, we must refrain from unduly discriminating against vulnerable groups, such as those who have fallen ill or require medical assistance. As the city strives to contain the outbreak, there is an equal need for empathy and understanding towards others. I earnestly hope that our solidarity will not be undercut by differences in our culture, race, religion, background, or other personal attributes.”
One way to express empathy is by sharing our excess resources with those in need. The Hong Kong Blind Union, for instance, is calling on netizens to donate masks to elderly people with visual impairment, who are facing added difficulties in going out to secure protective equipment amid supply shortage.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf (HKSD) has released a video on Facebook in sign language about the background of the outbreak and precautionary measures against the virus, such as wearing a mask, washing hands as often as possible, and avoiding crowded areas. Additionally, a group of medical students from The Chinese University of Hong Kong have also produced a YouTube video about precautionary measures with subtitles in languages spoken by different ethnic minorities living in the city, including Tagalog, Urdu, Hindi, Thai, Nepali, Bahasa Indonesia and Vietnamese.
Click the links below to find out more.
