#Interview #SayNo #NeverGiveUp
Hongkongers Close Down Business Rather Than Collecting Data for the Authorities: "There is no room for compromise"
Part 1
Citing the #CoronavirusPandemic as a reason, the Hong Kong government has suspended the entire fitness industry for more than 100 days.
On Feb 10, 2021, the government announced the permission of reopening facilities such as fitness centres, only if the facilities register customers with either the authorities' #LeaveHomeSafeApp or their personal information.
The government's decision sparked the city questions and criticisms in the city, as worries about #MassSurveillance arose. “It’s funny how they [the government officials] are not ashamed of their decisions”, said the owners of Wild Gym Fitness and Therapy.
The owners Mr and Mrs Tong were arrested by the police after helping out a girl to stand up near a protest site during the Anti-ELAB movement in 2019. The couple and the girl they helped were all charged with rioting, but finally acquitted.
Tong Wai-hung said he would rather close down the gym than colluding with the government to collect personal data. He also said that businesses are just going to lose more in the end if they betray customers' trust in exchange for making a living. “When are you going to stop selling out yourself?” he questioned.
Tong said, Hong Kong citizens and local businesses have been using effective measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus ever since the beginning of 2020. Nevertheless, they still suffered under the difficult times because the Hong Kong government refused to close the border with China to stop the source of the virus.
“We have already done the best we could in terms of preventive measures, but the government failed to protect our borders. I’m forced to close my business because of the pandemic now, while some people are still allowed to cross the border without being tested and undergoing quarantine”.
[Editor's note: From Feb 18, 2021 onwards, the Hong Kong government allows restaurants to re-open in the evening, but requires them to ask customers to register their personal information through the Leave Home Safe App or manually.]
Source: Stand News #Feb15
https://bit.ly/3tZqODM
#WildGymFitnessandTherapy #TongWaiHung
Hongkongers Close Down Business Rather Than Collecting Data for the Authorities: "There is no room for compromise"
Part 1
Citing the #CoronavirusPandemic as a reason, the Hong Kong government has suspended the entire fitness industry for more than 100 days.
On Feb 10, 2021, the government announced the permission of reopening facilities such as fitness centres, only if the facilities register customers with either the authorities' #LeaveHomeSafeApp or their personal information.
The government's decision sparked the city questions and criticisms in the city, as worries about #MassSurveillance arose. “It’s funny how they [the government officials] are not ashamed of their decisions”, said the owners of Wild Gym Fitness and Therapy.
The owners Mr and Mrs Tong were arrested by the police after helping out a girl to stand up near a protest site during the Anti-ELAB movement in 2019. The couple and the girl they helped were all charged with rioting, but finally acquitted.
Tong Wai-hung said he would rather close down the gym than colluding with the government to collect personal data. He also said that businesses are just going to lose more in the end if they betray customers' trust in exchange for making a living. “When are you going to stop selling out yourself?” he questioned.
Tong said, Hong Kong citizens and local businesses have been using effective measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus ever since the beginning of 2020. Nevertheless, they still suffered under the difficult times because the Hong Kong government refused to close the border with China to stop the source of the virus.
“We have already done the best we could in terms of preventive measures, but the government failed to protect our borders. I’m forced to close my business because of the pandemic now, while some people are still allowed to cross the border without being tested and undergoing quarantine”.
[Editor's note: From Feb 18, 2021 onwards, the Hong Kong government allows restaurants to re-open in the evening, but requires them to ask customers to register their personal information through the Leave Home Safe App or manually.]
Source: Stand News #Feb15
https://bit.ly/3tZqODM
#WildGymFitnessandTherapy #TongWaiHung