Never hands up, not if omicron surges up

Hong Kong has been navigating in its fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for three months and the situation remains serious. Speculations and fallacies have ensued. Some said Hong Kong can't maintain "zero-COVID" and must learn to "live with the virus"; some argued Hong Kong should scale back its quarantine measures immediately to "reconnect" with the world; some even bashed Hong Kong with sensational headlines such as that it has become an "isolated island". Nothing could be further from the truth.

Shortly after Hong Kong's COVID-19 cases surged early this year, President Xi Jinping issued decisive instructions that the SAR government should prioritize stamping out the contagion, mobilize all resources at its disposal and take all necessary measures to ensure the people's health and the stability of society.

At the request of the SAR, the central government has pulled out all the stops to assist Hong Kong by sending a number of expert groups and medical teams, helping to build isolation facilities, and ensuring steady supplies of fresh produce.

At the same time, the SAR government has taken on its primary responsibility, and a whole-of-society response has been made to this crisis.

Help from the motherland and solidarity in Hong Kong society, emerging as a dominant narrative thread, create the strongest strength and best conditions for the city to curb the pandemic and get out of all other predicaments.

Thanks to the joint efforts of all parties, daily confirmed cases in Hong Kong, below the 10,000 mark for days, have shown a steady downward trend, and its pandemic control and medical treatment ability has ballooned. These uplifting signs speak volumes for the efficacy of Hong Kong's measures and the necessity of continued prudence.

That said, Hong Kong is still in the thick of this uphill battle. At a recent coordination meeting to support Hong Kong, Xia Baolong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, pointed out that it is crucial to plan ahead in an orderly fashion while fixating on reducing infections, severe cases and fatalities, taking more targeted measures to key groups, organizations and areas, and prioritizing needs of the elderly. Xia also cautioned that people must not let their guard down until final victory is claimed.

Days ago, the SAR government adjusted some anti-pandemic policies in light of the situation, but it also highlighted its commitment to the fight against the virus and the possibility of implementing universal testing at a proper timing. Medical professionals have also warned that infections are still on a high plateau and the public must stay on high alert.

The last leg of a journey marks the halfway point. As things stand, there is still uncertainty about the pandemic. Omicron is spreading again in the US and Europe, leading to a surge of new cases globally, and experts have predicted a greater wave of hospitalization.

Hong Kong faces huge complexities with its population density, mobility and aging issue, so doubled efforts are required to get control over the virus compared to other places. It needs to protect the elderly who have devoted their lives to the city, to provide children with a safe education environment, and to restore normalcy to economic and social life. To achieve these goals, curbing the variant must come first rather than easing restrictions once and for all just for convenience. Otherwise, the outbreak will bounce back and deal a much heavier blow to livelihood and economy.

Achieving "dynamic zero infection" is still the mission for Hong Kong. People from all sectors have joined the anti-pandemic campaign, and the central government's support for Hong Kong remains ever steadfast.

Hong Kong is a highly open metropolis and a home to a large number of foreign nationals and institutions. The pandemic has pressed the "slow button" for traveling in Hong Kong, but its connections with the outside world have never been cut off. Hong Kong's East-meets-West status has never changed in the past and will not change in the future.

The central government and the SAR government have gone to great lengths to protect the safety and health of foreign people in Hong Kong and address their concerns. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also held a special webinar for foreign consulates and chambers to respond to their needs. Prior to that, the SAR government had issued two announcements to remind Hong Kong society of safeguarding the lawful rights of foreign domestic helpers. Many foreign consuls and heads of chambers have written to me to express their solidarity with the SAR in tiding over the tough time.

Difficulties in Hong Kong are only temporary. The SAR government has been taking multipronged countercyclical measures to stimulate consumption, protect employment, and support SMEs while making plans for the post-COVID era development.

Hong Kong's economy remains resilient with its import value up by 6.2 percent and a 0.9-percent uptick in exports in February. Once the pandemic fades, the economy will recover soon.

Hong Kong's financial market also remains dynamic, keeping its irreplaceable role as an international financial center. The city remained in third place globally in the latest Global Financial Centers Index published by British think tank Z/Yen Group and the China Development Institute in Shenzhen.

With China fostering a new development paradigm, advancing the Greater Bay Area development, and building Hong Kong into an international aviation hub, a global innovation and technology center, and a regional intellectual property trading center as stated in the national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Hong Kong enjoys a promising outlook and will bring more win-win opportunities to the world.

After the darkness comes dawn. In the fight against omicron, Hong Kong has already seen light at the end of the tunnel. As long as we stay sober in the midst of paranoid and even ill-disposed arguments, and protect our home together, Hong Kong will keep the runaway virus at bay and restore its vitality in the foreseeable future.

The author is the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.