As Hong Kong braces itself for a fifth wave of COVID infections, EOC Chairperson, Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin published an article in Hong Kong Economic Journal and inmediahk.net, as well as a letter to the editor in The South China Morning Post this week, appealing to the public to avoid stigmatising individuals who have tested positive for the coronavirus, let alone the professions or communities they belong to.

While acknowledging that background information on patients in a specific cluster can be crucial for contact tracing to be effective in stopping the chain of transmission, Mr Chu stressed that it is counter-productive to associate an entire ethnic group or profession with the virus, which will only deepen prejudice and polarise society. 

“With the exception of a minor few who flagrantly flouted Government rules, the confirmed patients have all been doing their part in fighting the pandemic, just like the rest of us,” wrote Mr Chu. “Instead of pointing fingers and spreading resentment, we should be standing together in solidarity and value everyone’s contribution to this unfinished fight.”

Mr Chu also reaffirmed that the EOC stands ready to handle complaints from anyone who believes they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment or vilification under Hong Kong’s anti-discrimination ordinances.

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