Ruttonjee Hospital frontline medical staff: Don’t put our lives as political collateral for the government’s incompetence
A letter circulated widely on Facebook today, signed as “A group of Ruttonjee Hospital frontline medical staff, penned by Dr. C.Y. Yung,” in harsh criticism of the government as “incompetent and incapable, and led to large amounts of people from infected areas to rush in.” They have requested that the government must close all Hong Kong border entries from Chinese travelers, otherwise they will escalate their action, including potentially a general strike.
According to a telephone interview conducted by Stand News, Dr. Yung stated that frontline medical staff and assistants are “those who want to strike the least” because of their obligation to their patients, and the purpose of using a strike as a threat is to deliver an strong message to urge the government to close off the borders and prevent overloading the local medical system. The details of the strike are organized by the Health Authority Employees Association or HAEA, a new union formed in late 2019 during the protests, and Dr. Yung believes that once the strike is underway, all non-emergency services will be halted, including outpatient services. Similarly, emergency services will also be affected to some degree.
In yesterday’s (January 28) press conference, Chief Executive Carrie Lam declared to halt issuing visas for mainlander visits, but have only closed six secondary ports of entry which comprises of a tiny fraction of the total inflow traffic into Hong Kong. Lam’s explained that with over 70% of the flow being Hong Kong citizens, closing the borders will bar access for Hongkongers from either entering or exiting. However, Yung doubts Lam’s explanation, stressing that their request specifically targets mainland travelers, and not on preventing or denying Hong Kong residents from entering or exiting.
HAEA has issued an ultimatum that should their “Five demands” including the borders closing to mainland travelers not be satisfied, they will begin collective action beginning on February 3, including a 2-stage walkout and strike.
【律敦治醫護聯署信】
The petition letter from the Ruttonjee Medical staff:
To the management of the Hospital Authority:
PLEASE DO NOT TREAT OUR LIVES AS POLITICAL COLLATERAL TO THE GOVERNMENT’S INCOMPETENCE
In the face of the epidemic, we are duty-bound to taking care of the citizens of Hong Kong.
But the incompetence of the government and letting our borders go unchecked, led to massive inflow of population from infected areas into our city. Furthermore, the government has recklessly declared to its citizens that masks are unnecessary in public spaces, and only after pressure from multiple parties have they partially closed off our borders with a delay, making the policy effectively useless. Carrie Lam has even slandered the demands of the medical staff as radical behavior with a cold snark on her expression, and has shown our staff only indignation and no sense of respect.
To our esteemed Hospital Authority executives,
Please tell our government, that our demands are:
- To immediately implement preventive measures at all of Hong Kong’s borders, and immediately close the Chinese visitors’ passageway in all crossing points, and
- Openly call for all citizens to take preventive and defensive measures against the epidemic in public areas, including the wearing of a facial mask
In the sake of natural calamity, we should respond with a composed manner.
In the face of a man-made disaster, we cannot make any meaningless sacrifices and let “the government entertain, and medics pay the bill,” and we should rather shed light on the utter ridiculousness of their words and actions, protect our citizens, and protect Hong Kong.
If the government cannot make a timely reply, we do not exclude the possibility to participate in collective action by our union to demonstrate our intention and force.
A group of Ruttonjee Hospital Frontline Medical Staff
Penned by Dr. C.Y. YUNG
-------------------------------------------------致各醫管局高層：
請不要把我們的性命賠作政府的無能及政治籌碼
疫症當前，對於照顧香港市民，我們責無旁貸。
但政府昏庸無能，任由關卡不設防，令大量疫區人口湧入，更公開對市民妄言於公共地方毋需戴口罩防備。於各方多番勸阻下，才延遲局部封閉關卡，政策形同虛設。林鄭月娥更公開誣捏醫護人員之要求為激烈行為，並附以冷笑，對前線醫護毫不尊重，極為傲慢無禮。
各位尊費的醫管局高層，
請告訴政府，我們要求
– 立即全面落實香港邊境防疫措施，立即全面關閉所有中國旅客入境通道
– 公開呼籲市民於公眾地方做好防禦措施，包括配戴口罩
面對天災，我們沉著應對；
面對人禍，我們不能作出無謂犧牲，任由「政府請客，醫護埋單」，更應力陳其荒謬之舉，保護市民，守護香港。
若政府未能作出適時回應，我們不排除參與由工會舉行之工業行動，以作善示。一群律敦治醫院前線醫護人員
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