šŸ“”Guardians of Hong Kong
9.58K subscribers
21.6K photos
1.88K videos
27 files
9.99K links
We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
Facebook: http://bit.ly/BeWaterHongKong
Instagram: @guardiansofhk
Website: https://guardiansofhk.com/
Download Telegram
#FaceMask #FailedState
How Many (Types of) Masks do Hongkongers Have to Wear?

From the eruption of the Anti-extradition Law Movement since June 2019 to the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, the Hong Kong government, unelected, refused to answer to the damands of the population all along, from the withdrawal of the bill, universal suffrage, the adequate supply of protective masks to the closure of Hong Kong-China borders.

#FaceMasks
#6200 #6502QL #7500 #3200 #6800 #60926 #2097 #P100 #7093 #6035 #3M

Source: Flash Media HK #Feb11 #HealthCrisis #GovernanceCrisis #HongKongProtests

Shielded From Coronavirus:
The Status of Police in Hong Kong

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17053
#HealthCrisis #SupplyShortage
Medical Resource Shortage in Hong Kong: Hospital Staff Forced to Use Less Masks, Drink Less Water and Limit Bathroom Breaks

It had become clearer by the day that Hong Kong public hospitals are low on protective gear for its staff, especially in N95 masks, surgical masks and hazmat suits.

Medical workers on the frontline in Hong Kong revealed that the North District Hospital requested the Hospital Authority (#HA) for more of the 1870+ N95 masks, yet the HA had yet to replenish their supplies. Since the 1870+ masks fit most staffers, they ran out really quickly. Most workers thus had to use other models which did not fit snuggly on their faces, which had potential problems like air leakage or being too tight on the nose, all of which are crucial in ensuring maximum protection.

Currently, Tuen Mun Hospital only allowed phlebotomists to use one mask per day, in order to save the little supplies they have got left. This caused some staff members to drink less water and limit their bathroom breaks so they don't have to change their protective wear.

The Hospital Workers' union were concerned about the lack of protective gear supply and how that would endanger the staff and patients and increase the chance of contamination.

Thousands of medical workers went on a 5-day-strike last week to get the government to close the borders, as well as to request the Hospital Authority to publish the numbers of protective gear they have in stock, in order to make sure frontline staffers have enough of what they need to protect themselves and the patients. The Department of Food and Hygiene and Hospital Authority claimed on the 6th Feb that they have enough supplies to last three months but refused to publish actual numbers. On the 8th Feb, soon after the strike was halted, the HA then overturned their previous claim, stating that there were only 1 month worth of surgical masks left.

The Hospital Authority Employee Alliance (#HAEA) questioned how the number of supplies can drop from 3 months to 1 month in merely 2 days, and whether the HA was attempting to deceive their staff.

Source: CNews
#Feb10 #ChinesePneumonia #HospitalAuthority #FaceMasks #HongKongMedics
#FaceMasks #Shortage #FailedState
Granny rather wears home-made napkin mask, saving medical masks and disinfectants for family members

On February 13, over 300 seniors rallied to the Government House, the Chief Executive's residence, urging Carrie Lam to explain the actual usage of filter masks made by prisoners in Hong Kong.

A 70-year old granny Chan, despite wearing a home-made napkin mask, commuted a long way from Yuen Long to Chater Garden in Central to join the rally. She explained that her daughter had given her masks and disinfectants, which she refused to use. Seeing the shortage of supply, Chan would rather want her daughter to keep those masks for her own family as a priority.

Chan added that she had queued up for masks for more than 1.5 hours but for nothing in the end. Chan pointed out that she just could not afford any expensive masks in the market. The Hong Kong government has not offered any masks.

Source: Inmedia
http://bit.ly/2OPC2aZ

#Feb13 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak
#CoronavirusOutbreak #ValentinesDay
The Mosted Wanted Valentine's Day Gift in Hong Kong During Coronavirus Outbreak

In a survey conducted by a dating company in Hong Kong, 30% of the interviews want to receive face masks and disinfectants on Valentine's Day in 2020.

Source: Now News #Feb14
Image: Internet

#FaceMasks #HappyValentine #HongKong2020

Granny rather wears home-made napkin mask to save supply for family members
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17170

The Contrast Between Police and Medics in Hong Kong
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17053

2020 Valentine's Day: We Have Each Other
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17171
Love in Times of New Coronavirus, Hong Kong, 14.2.2020

On Valentineā€™s Day under the epidemic, the masks blocked the germs but not the loversā€™ desire to kiss.

Photo: Kenji Wong / Stand News

#ValentinesDay #FaceMasks #HappyValentine #CoronavirusOutbreak

Valentine's Day 2020: Hongkongers Have Each Other
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17176

The Mosted Wanted Valentine's Day Gift in Hong Kong During Coronavirus Outbreak
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17243
#FaceMasks #FailedState
Beijing Loyalists' Campaign to Give Masks Ends Up in Chaos in Hong Kong

The pro-Beijing camp in Hong Kong announced the establishment of an epidemic prevention group among themselves. In the inauguration on Sunday, February 23, the group claimed that 1 million masks would be given away to the disadvantaged and elderly.

Chan Chung-bun, deputy to the People's Republic of China, Ko Wing-man, the former secretary of the Food and Health Bureau, Regina Ip, the chairman of the New Democratic Party, and Ng Chau-pei, the president of the Federation of Trade Unions attended the ceremony.

However, a video went viral on the Internet showing the chaotic scene at Kowloon City's Kai Ching Estate, as citizens rammed for masks distributed by the group. People at the scene kept on shouting, "donā€™t wrest."

Source: Stand News #Feb23
http://bit.ly/2Px8K1p
#ChinesePneumonia
Government's Prisoner-made Masks Purportedly Resold and Misused: Office of the Ombudsman Invites Citizens to Report

With to the ongoing epidemic, the demand for face masks never stops. The ā€œCSI masksā€ belong to the government and are manufactured by inmates undergoing Correctional Services. However, there have been a lot of sayings that these marks were resold to make money.

On March 5 the Office of Ombudsman announced that they will investigate the Correctional Services and the Government Logistics Department, in regards to their regulatory system, procedures and performance of the manufacturing, distributing and storage of CSI masks.

The Office invites citizens to provide information and opinions on the case on or before 6 April vis email: complaints@ombudsman.hk.

Source: Apple Daily #Mar5
#Facemasks
Office of the Ombudsman to investigate sale of masks made at Correctional Services facilities

The demand for masks have surged due to the Coronavirus epidemic and that includes masks manufactured by detainees at Correctional Services facilities. Recently, these CSI-made masks have been found for sale in the open market . On 5 March, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that they have launched an investigation into the matter by examining and reviewing the systems and procedures involved in the production, distribution, inventory control and storage of CSI-made masks at the Correctional Services Department and the Government Logistics Department.

Masks manufactured by the Correctional Services (known as CSI masks)
are mostly supplied to government departments with a small number being sold to non-government organisations, social welfare organisations and schools. But recently a small quantity of of CSI masks have been found for sale online leading to suspicions that they are being resold without permission. The Office of Ombudsman received complaints about this and decided to initiate an investigation.

The Office of the Ombudsman has also invited citizens to provide related information and suggestions on the case on or before 06 April in writing, including emailing to complaints@ombudsman.hk .

The Ombudsman was established in 1989 by the Ombudsman Ordinance. The Ombudsman is entitled to call witnesses and access relevant data for investigative purposes. It has a wide range of investigative powers: conducting inquiries, obtaining information and documents, summoning witnesses and inspecting the premises of organisations under complaint.

The Ombudsman may report findings and make recommendations for redress or improvements to the organisation. Heads of organisations have a duty to report at regular intervals their progress of implementation of those recommendations. However, the Ombudsman may not interfere with any actions taken by the organizations.

Earlier, the Correctional Services have said that since the Coronavirus broke out, all CSI masks have been supplied to the Government Logistics Department with none being sold to non-governmental bodies. Official notices also claimed that because the Correctional Services has been providing masks for non-governmental organisations before the epidemic, it was ā€œnormal for some civilians to use those masksā€.

The Police Force confirmed earlier, that no arrest has been made for the selling of CSI masks.

Source : Apple Daily
#6Mar #FaceMasks
Stained and Very Thin Masks Provided by Education Bureau to Hong Kong Students,
Logistics Department Confirms Origin from China and Russia


The Education Bureau in Hong Kong previously announced, that they would provide masks and let school distribute them to students sitting for this yearā€™s DSE Examinations, a public exam crucial to university admission in Hong Kong.

Stand News received 2 complaints from students, who found the masks too thin and stained with yellow marks. In response to the inquiries made by Stand News, the Education Bureau said that the 500,000 masks for local students were supplied by the Government Logistics Department. No complaints had been received from the schools.

The Logistic Department confirmed that the masks were not expired and they came from China and Russia.

Source: Stand News #Mar10
#FaceMasks #DSE #Exam #EducationBureau #FailedState
#StateTerrorism
Hong Kong Government to Turn Down Proposal Passed in Directly Elected District Council


On March 11, the Community Emergency Response Team of Tun Mun District Council passed the proposal of applying for a government funding of 3 million dollars to purchases protective gear, including gas masks and filters.

Tuen Mun District Officer Fung Ngar-wai opposed to the purchase, and said that even though the proposal had been passed in the district council, the Home Affairs Department possesses the rights for final decisions. Fung explained that, if the funding amount exceeded 1.2 million dollars, it would to require an approval from the Home Affairs Department. She also said in a threatening tone, ā€ If the purchase items were not cost-effective, we will not approve.ā€

Source: InMedia #Mar12
#DistrictCouncil #FaceMasks
#FaceMasks #SelfHelp
Made-in-Hong Kong Masks:
The Return of Local Industries?


At the results announcement on March 19, Victor Li, son of tycoon Ka-Shing Li and chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, seemed to imply that the group might start a production line to manufacture "Made in Hong Kong" facemasks.

Source: HKET #Mar19
#TaiwanHelps #Australia
Taiwan Sets Example of Global Solidarity: To ship Australia 3 tons of fabric to make face masks

//Taiwan and Australia have reached an agreement in which the two countries will exchange raw materials desperately needed to battle the Wuhan coronavirus announced the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on March 30.

Taiwan will offer Australia 3 metric tons of non-woven fabric to produce surgical masks once Taiwan has reached sufficient domestic production capacity...

Australia has pledged to provide Taiwan with 1 million liters of alcohol which can be used to produce 4.2 million 300 milliliter bottles containing 75 percent alcohol to be used as a disinfectant.//

Source: Taiwan News #Mar31
#CoronavirusPandemic #FaceMasks

Europe thanks Taiwan for donating 5.6 million face masks during Coronavirus Pandemic
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19257
#TaiwanHelps #Europe #CoronavirusPandemic
Europe thanks Taiwan for donating 5.6 million face masks during Coronavirus Pandemic


Taiwan has been donating masks around the world.

The Chairman of the European Union thanked Taiwan for donating 5.6 million face masks to Europe.

The French Bureau in Taiwan (Bureau FranƧais de Taipei, BFT) also expressed gratitude to the Taiwan government and Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen.

Source: Ursula von der Leyen's twiiter; BFT's facebook #Apr2

#Taiwan #UrsulaVonDerLeyen #FaceMasks #EU #BFT

Taiwan Sets Example of Global Solidarity: To ship Australia 3 tons of fabric to make face masks
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19255
#FailedState #Taxpayers #FaceMasks
Where are the 13-million masks produced on public fund?: Hong Kong Government Refuses to Answer

In mid-February, ā€œHong Kong Connectionā€, an investigative programme of RTHK, conducted a study to find out how the Hong Kong government uses the prisoner-made "CSI" masks.

RTHK invoked the ā€œCode on Access to Informationā€ and requested the Logistics Services Department to disclose the number of CSI masks and protective robes the government procured from the Correctional Services Department between 2017 and 2019, as well as the amount allocated to other departments.

On April 1, 2020, the Logistics Services Department responded but refused to disclose informatio ā€œas not to undermine the bargaining power in purchasing protective gear amidst fierce competitionā€. The department emphasized that the Government has been making every effort to procure anti-epidemic materials.

In mid-February, the Financial Services and Treasury Bureau had revealed that the Logistics Department had purchased an average of 1.1 million masks per month from the Correctional Services Department in 2019. Earlier on, the Correctional Services Department said that in 2019, social welfare agencies, schools and other non-governmental organizations had purchased about 120,000 masks from them.

Reported widely in media was how the government-owned CSI masks were available for sale. Many have been questioning whether the filter masks have been mis-distributed for reselling purpose.

Apparently, the Government is evading to fully disclose the allocation and whereabouts of about 13 million CSI masks produced every year.

Source: 'Hong Kong Connection' RTHK

#Apr5 #CSI #HongKongGovernment
#WuhanPneumonia #ThirdWave #CoronavirusPandemic
ā€˜Third Wave Of Infections Will Come From Chinaā€™, Hong Kong Microbiologist Says Medical Staff Might Need to Reuse Disinfected N95 Masks

University of Hong Kong microbiologist Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung warned that China is facing another wave of infections that could eventually bring a ā€˜third waveā€™ of cases to Hong Kong.

Yuen mentioned that it will likely be caused by China going back to work en masse and the recent return of overseas Chinese from virus hotspots like the United States or Europe.

ā€œThis kind of cycle will continue on and on until we have an effective vaccine, or we acquire herd immunity, where about 60-80 percent of people are immune to Covid-19.ā€

Yuen states that he is not optimistic about the epidemic in Hong Kong at this stage, and medical staff might need to be prepared to reuse disinfected N95 masks, similar to what had been in during SARS in 2003.

Source: Commercial Radio 881903; RTHK

#Apr5 #YuenKwokYun #HongKongMedics #FaceMasks