Hong Kong is operating as free market economy where anyone can buy what they need, so most people stock up as much as they need and during this panic none of the big private players are capable to handle it, as they want to profit from it. In this scenario planned economy like China and Singapore works much better than free market economy. So probably it’s a failure of Hong Kong’s free market economy.
In Hong Kong many healthcare staff assigned to take care of infected people resign and many go on a strike when a collective response to handle an epidemic is needed. They went on a strike to close borders and ask local government not to bring back Hong Kong residents and people stuck in Mainland.
Likewise, in a truly free market, supermarket shelves wouldn't be empty - prices would just be very high for the scarse goods.
I believe that's getting close to the description of profiteering - depending on what exactly is not available and gets expensive. This could cause poor people to rebel, which again, results in empty shelves.
* They firebombed a hospital/building that would’ve served as the quarantine location. This could’ve saved them, but instead, their stupidity doomed them.
* They destroyed city services without realizing, or caring, of their precarious situation.
* Their political backers wanted their city to fail, in order to be the sacrificial lamb, so that China could be destroyed. Interestingly enough, their dreams may be getting closer. And all it took was a novel little virus. The loss of life will be very high indeed, including their own, but they don’t care, nor do their political backers.
* The doctors and nurses abandoned their positions during a crisis, but they have a civic responsibility, and are the first responders to a health crisis. But they just left their posts. Now the people must fend for themselves. What about when this actually becomes real? Are they going to run too? It looks like they will.
I don’t have the answers, nor do I want Hong Kong to fail. But Mother Nature is on deck, and she’s going to take her toll.
Um... No. The government refuse to take ANY action with regards to health and Safety. Would you blame firefighters for not getting into situation with inadequate gear?
They are happy to destroy HK for a little more power
We still fighting the top tier and the germ. As said it is not hope we have. It is by trying we might have hope.
Tl; dr
The top tier can let in mask long time ago and we will not have problem now. The top tier can follow medical advice and close the border like Singapore and even macau or ... Wuhan. Instead we have a hard time to buy it overseas. In fact we still do as the top tier failed and in the way.
you may think that is an argument of words. But it is not. If you want even more stronger state fit an event ultimately rely upon individual to stay alert and healthy, instead still go around to do hot pot with your family from china and got at least 7 out of 20 infected, you need some top tier action but also some citizen action. But that is not in.
Instead it try to a strong and in fact a police state. They ask for scouts even to quarantine centre but not police. Because the police still acting like they are just nothing happened. And just arrest 119 people in remembrance of a protestor.
the top tier should know police cannot do all things. but they cannot fulfill their duty, except continue to arrest people in peaceful gathering. Just arrest 119 for a remembrance...
No it is not a failure of the state in the sense it failed. It is the success they think that is the problem. The top tier just too strong on one agenda. Hence the fix is not the success of the state. But the change strategy of the state. If not, the whole system no matter his strong the civil society is cannot survive.
