The Young Reporter Vol. 54 Issue 1 by The Young Reporter

THE YOUNG REPORTER Volume 54 Issue 01 September 2021

E N I T N A R A U Q

Editor’s Letter Quarantine is a word us Hongkongers are far too familiar with. Our issue this time explores the ups and downs of some of the strictest quarantine measures in the world. We wanted to put faces and voices to stories and learn how people cope with the fluctuating and complicated regulations under quarantine. From stories about mental health, to food and nutrition, it’s unprecedented how people have been doing under such circumstances. Some for 21 days in some of the cities most luxurious hotels, while others scrape by with uncleaned showers and inedible food. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as our reporters enjoyed writing it. The Young Reporter Vol. 54 No. 1 Printer The Green Pagoda Press Ltd 9/F, Block A & B, Tung Chong Factory Building, 653- 655 King’s Road, North Point, HK Editor-in-Chief Simran Vaswani Deputy Editors Cora Zhu Janice Lo Jasmine Tse Sara Cheng Art Designers Cora Zhu Bowie Tse Stacy Shi Reporters Bruce Zhao Kate Zhang

Sincerely, Simran Vaswani Editor-in-chief

Kiki Lo Malick Gai Phoebe Law Tracy Leung Editors Bella Huang Bowie Tse Esten Amalvy Janice Lo Samuel Li Shameel Ibrahim Advisors Jenny Lam Robin Ewing

hkbutyr hkbutyr hkbutyr The Young Reporter tyrmagazine@gmail.com

tyr.jour.hkbu.edu.hk

In This Issue

COVID-19 quarantine impacts mental health

A Tale of Two Hotels: Food quality varies wildly between Hong Kong’s budget and luxury quarantine hotels

Sudden quarantine policy change disrupts travellers’ plans

Hotel stay generates hundreds of plastic food containers

Travellers shocked at Hong Kong’s quarantine hotels: Clogged sinks, awful food and poor service

Social media helps people deal with quarantine by delivering support, information 3

COVID-19 quarantine impacts mental health Reported by Malick Gai Edited by Samuel Li Charlene Flores and her husband nearly got divorced in the last two hours of a 14-day quarantine.

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“We ended up arguing. There were a lot of rules. It really affected our mental well-being,” said Ms Flores. Those who have to be confined in a room for weeks report impacts on their mental health because of the resulting loneliness and anxiety. She is a French freelance photographer for Paris-based national newspapers and magazines and has lived in Hong Kong since January 2020. Ms Flores, her 14-month old daughter and her 36-year old husband stayed at the Iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel. She arrived in Hong Kong on August 18. Hong Kong has some of the strictest quarantine requirements in the world. Depending on which risk level their originating country falls under, the Department of Health requires in-bound travellers to be quarantined at designated hotels for either two or three weeks. As of September, fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents from “high risk” (or Group A) countries,

including the UK, France, India, and Thailand, had to be quarantined for 21 days. Fully vaccinated travellers arriving from “medium risk” (or Group B) countries must test negative for Covid-19 and quarantine for 14 days while the unvaccinated in this group must quarantine for 21 days. Currently, the only places that fall under the “low risk” (Group C) category include New Zealand, mainland China and Macao. Non-Hong Kong and Hong Kong residents are required to quarantine for seven days if vaccinated, and 14 if not. “It was a tough, expensive and stressful experience. We were always afraid that there might be a false negative test or being identified as a close contact,” said Mrs Flores. Karman Leung, Chief Executive of the Samaritan’s Hong Kong, an independent non-governmental organisation, said they receive approximately three to five calls a month from people in quarantine. They complain of a range of symptoms such as boredom, loneliness and severe depression. “For [people in quarantine], we cannot do a lot of 4

intervention. Our main strategy is to stay on the line to keep people company. Sometimes all people need is to know someone cares. We hope people can reach out to us as soon as possible. We are here to listen to them and provide a secure place to discuss their problems,” said Ms Leung. The ‘HK Quarantine Support Group’ on Facebook was set up 2 years ago and has more than 50 thousand members. People in the group share pictures of meals, exercise routines, recommended books and movies. Gira Patel is a Hong Kong-based mental health counsellor with OT&P Healthcare. “Several people a week would call from quarantine. They suffer from extreme anxiety and panic attacks,”Ms Patel said. Some of her patients in quarantine report feeling claustrophobic, anxiety with breathing inside a room with locked windows, and some have depression and insomnia. These symptoms worsen over the weeks. Ms Patel explained that some of the psychological reasons include the lack of contact with people and lack of exposure to sunlight. “[It] isn’t good for our brains because your

Charlene Flores is in quarantine with her husband and her 14-month old daughter at the Iclub Ma Tau Wai hotel in Hong Kong. (Photo: Charlene Flores)

sleep system is disturbed,” she said. Ms Patel herself was classified a “close contact” in April five days after a nurse at one of the clinics she worked at tested positive for the virus. She was then sent to Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre three weeks after receiving her second dose of the Covid vaccine. She said the experience was quite traumatic. “They treat you physically as if you are infectious. I see the experience as an incarceration,” she reflected. She was intense emotionally for the first few days. “I was very angry, experiencing deep sadness, crying, and I had nightmares. It was a normal response to an abnormal

situation. Feeling trapped or feeling at the mercy of other people. I felt helpless,” said Ms Patel.

fully and depending on your room location, some have a green mountain view,” said Ms Patel.

Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre, located on Lantau Island, is split into different sections, or “phases”, according to the travellers’ port of entry or whether they are suspected of being a “close contact” of a confirmed case. The centre was originally meant for quarantine of people suspected of close contacts, but recently fully vaccinated domestic helpers arriving from the Philippines and Indonesia can also quarantine there for three weeks.

At quarantine hotels however, the windows and doors are shut and residents are not allowed to open them.

“If I have to go to quarantine again, I would rather go to Penny’s Bay because there are sliding windows that can open 5

“It is a survivable experience, but it seems unnecessary given the detrimental effects on mental health, and the lack of benefit it brings to public health,” Ms Patel said. Referring to a ubiquitous Samaritan’s leaflet being distributed en masse across Hong Kong quarantine hotels for the residents to read in their rooms, Ms Patel said that it proves that the authorities are aware of the mental health crises and the risks of suicidal thoughts of those who are locked up.

This is the view from Gira Patel’s opened window at the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. (Photo: Gira Patel)

Eric Wishart, 67, originally from Scotland, is a Paris-based journalist who has worked in Hong Kong for most of the last 25 years with Agence France Presse. He and his daughter, 24, were quarantined for 21 days at the Empire Hotel in Causeway Bay after flying from London to Hong Kong.

Bay. “I felt bored and contained,’ she said, “and a bit isolated in a small room. I wished the windows weren’t locked. I wanted to get out immediately,” said Ms Chan.

“I found my hotel room in an unhygienic and unsanitary state: lots of hairs in the shower drain, used condom packet, tissue under the bed, a pair of used slippers and lack of disinfectant,” Mr Wishart said.

“The food is not good, the menu is more or less the same every day, and the time of food delivery is a little too early for me,” said Ms Chan.

Chan Ka-wai, 20, is a Hong Kong resident who arrived from London to spend the summer holidays with her family and was quarantined for 21 days in a 160 square feet standard room at the Eco Tree Hotel in Causeway

Poor diets has been one of the main complaints for people quarantining in both hotels and Penny’s Bay.

“I don’t eat the food. It always arrives cold, it’s horrible, not fresh and not healthy. It’s stodgy,” Mr Wishart said. “You just have to accept you are here. You need to vent but I don’t think you should spend your day metaphorically roaming the 6

room. You can share your hotel experience online, and moan to your friends,” said Mr Wishart. According to the World Health Organization, any adjustment in the quarantine period of contacts from 14 days balances the public health risks and benefits against its social and economic impact. According to an interim guidance report issued in June 2021, prolonged absence from social and economic activities is challenging for most people. A review published by the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience last year concluded that “persons under quarantine or isolation are at heightened risk of mental health problems, in particular depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders and anger.”

As of September 10, quarantine rules in Singapore for travellers from most countries have been shortened from 14 days to 10 days, in view of the shorter incubation period of the Delta variant. Michael Weiner, 32, is an American teacher from the United States who arrived in Singapore to start a new job in August. Mr Weiner had what he described as a five-star hotel experience. He had a large room, a range of meal choices, and his room had a minifridge. But the lack of fresh air, movement and feeling of being controlled worsened his preexisting mental health condition. A major contributing factor to his heightened anxiety over his 14 day stay, he said,

was the constant phone calls from government officers who repeatedly asked for his temperature, his work pass number, and his overall health. “It was driving me crazy. I had to [repeatedly] input information in an app. It was all very redundant. My biggest worry during quarantine incarceration was whether I was going to get out this mentally healthy or not,” said Mr Weiner. “I understand the need for controlling the virus, but three weeks’ [in] quarantine has a psychological and physical impact on people that should be considered, never mind the financial cost,” said Mr Wishart.

health, but did not respond to interview requests. Australian actress Nicole Kidman flew into Hong Kong from Sydney in August to film a television show. The government said Ms Kidman’s quarantine exemption allows her to carry out “designated professional work” which is seen as necessary to the local economy. “Nicole Kidman did not have to do quarantine, which annoyed a lot of people. They said it was because she would contribute to Hong Kong’s economy, as if the people in quarantine don’t,” said Mr Wishart.

The Department of Health was contacted to shed light on the effects of quarantine on mental

d Eric Wishart’s dinner is served – cold- at the Empire Hotel in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. (Photo: Eric Wishart) 7

A Tale of Two Hotels:

Food quality varies wildly between Hong Kong’s budget and luxury quarantine hotels Reported by Tracy Leung Edited by AMALVY Esten Eriksen

Hong Kong’s governmentdesignated quarantine hotels are required to provide three meals a day to guests. But many staying in the least expensive hotels have been horrified by what they are served,bywhile those that can Reported Jasmine Tse afford delivery or stay Editedit, byorder Simran Vaswani

in more expensive hotels, often double or triple the price. “Can’t believe this is called a hotel. Motels overseas are much better than this, even Airbnb. The food tastes bad and there is even no chair for eating. I feel

helpless,” said Fanny Chan, a guest at the Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Sai Ying Pun on quarantine day 16. Ms Chan said she paid HK$12,390 for 21 nights. Ms Chan reported that after a

Fanny Chan took a photo of her dinner of sweet and sour sauce pork ribs with steamed rice at the Ramada Harbour View Hotel. 8

The dinner set served with fresh juice and dessert at the Sheraton Hong Kong & Tower. (Photo: Edith White)

week, she had developed an allergic skin reaction due to the dirty state of the room and poor quality of the food she was offered. The hotel did not provide any help for her, she said.

alternatives like nuts and canned fish,” Director of the Hong Kong Community Dietitian Association, Bonnie Leung said.

Tsui in September for 21 nights. They paid HK$36,330 for a room with a city view, nearly double the cost of Ms Chan’s room.

The Ramada hotel has yet to comment.

“It is highly recommended for people with special needs to notify hotels about their history of allergy when they first move in,” Ms Leung said.

“Healthy food includes grains, dairy such as milk and soya milk, vegetables, fruit and meat or

Nicholas White and Edith White stayed at the Sheraton Hong Kong & Tower in Tsim Sha

“We were fully aware of how difficult a 21-day quarantine stay would be so prepared to pay a bit more for a decent sized room with reasonably good food,” said Mr White.

“Frankly speaking, most dishes are not bad compared

to other quarantine hotels — the menu of Sheraton includes a good range of ingredients,” said Mrs White. It was the second time that Mr and Mrs White experienced hotel quarantine in Hong Kong and this time they were better prepared. They said they kept busy with regular workouts, online teaching, some simple housework and time for entertainment in addition to chatting with family and friends. “As for us, we couldn’t sleep if the food was full of strong seasoning [MSG]. Luckily we haven’t had insomnia or food poisoning,” said Mrs White. In general, less expensive hotels outsource meals to an external catering company while more expensive hotels equipped with kitchens, such as the Sheraton, make their own. In May, Danny Catering Services Ltd was fired as food distributor for Penny’s Bay, the government quarantine centre now also operating as a quarantine hotel for incoming foreign domestic helpers. Contaminated food found by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department led to food poisoning of 45 people.

The White’s were happy with their hotel’s meals. “For breakfast, we like to try all the eight kinds the hotel provides. I enjoy the American, the waffle, the Chinese and the bagel sets more. For lunch, it’s always with a beverage and green salad. For dinner, the meal is accompanied by a dessert or a mini mixed fruit cup,” said Mrs White. “The food is freshly made though it is usually warm by the time it arrives outside our room. Nevertheless it’s hygienic and quite healthy,” said Mr White. A well-rounded meal provides adequate energy, protein and fibre, Ms Leung said, adding that it’s normal to feel depressed if unsatisfied with a meal. “People should select foods that contain less oil and salt like fried foods and they are recommended to order an adequate amount of vegetables,” Ms Leung said.

Ms Chan said her food was the same everyday and delivered cold more often than not. There was no microwave in the room. “Sometimes they miss breakfast. But I can’t finish all the food everyday. I am worried about not getting enough nutrients. I can only eat snacks when hungry so I keep losing weight now, “ said Ms Chan. 10

Waffle Breakfast Set is one of the eight kinds of breakfast at the Sheraton Hotel. (Photo: Edith White)

“In order to stay healthy, people should minimize sedentary time, do some home-based exercise when feasible and drink enough water, 6-8 cups/ day as well as limit discretionary foods intake, like cookies, chips, cup noodles etc,” Bonnie Leung 11

A hotel staff is managing deliveries for travelers under quarantine.

Sudden quarantine policy change disrupts travellers’ plans w Reported by Phoebe Law Edited by Bella Huang

When Berkay Kececi left Hong Kong in July to visit his family in Turkey, he told his friends he would be back in three weeks. But now, he’s already been stuck in Istanbul for over two months, uncertain when he can return. After completing a master’s in law at the University of Hong Kong, Mr. Kecci decided to go

back to his home country for a short visit. When he left the city, he thought the quarantine policy was bearable - no quarantine restrictions in Turkey, and a seven-day hotel quarantine back here given that he’s fully vaccinated.

changed 15 countries, including Turkey and the US, from medium risk to high risk, effective four days later. It meant that travellers from these countries had to quarantine in a designated hotel for 21 days, two weeks longer than the previous restriction.

However, on August 16, the Hong Kong government

“I have some plans for the future, they rest in Hong Kong.

“There is still no guarantee that I can come back in two months. Maybe the government can change the policy. I can stay here for longer, there is no guarantee. So I am kind of stuck here,” Berkay Kececi

For example, I have some job interviews, but I cannot go to their offices because I am here,” said Mr. Kececi. Since the outbreak of Covid, Hong Kong has recorded more than 12,000 cases with over 200 deaths. In January 2021, the number of new cases started to decrease and Hong Kong has recorded no local cases since August 17. However, citing the more-transmissible Delta coronavirus variant, the government decided to tighten quarantine restrictions as an effort to control the spread in the local community. Mr. Kececi was frustrated because policy changes like this made it difficult for him to make plans. His air ticket became void as he couldn’t find a designated quarantine hotel with 21

she should have arrived in Hong Kong on August 8 with only seven days of quarantine. However, the Hong Kong government banned her flight from Turkey due to a rising number of cases in the country, followed by the quarantine policy change. Because of the new policy, compulsory quarantine has been extended for all countries and regions, except Macau, mainland China and Taiwan, and so increasing the financial burden on travellers. “Originally, my budget for quarantine was only for seven days. But because of the policy change, I have to pay for two weeks more. I must come back as I don’t have a working visa in France and I can only work once I am back in Hong Kong,’ said Ms. Wong.

days availability. Since the policy announcement, travellers have “I heard the policy change in the been racing to rebook hotels and morning that day, and I can’t find Mr. Kececi couldn’t find a room. a hotel room in the afternoon,” Ms. Wong added. She had to “There is still no guarantee cancel her hotel booking and was that I can come back in two charged one day of the room fee months. Maybe the government of more than HK$400. can change the policy. I can stay here for longer, there Chung Lai-wai, a sales clerk is no guarantee. So I am kind of in aviation, wanted to come stuck here,” said Mr. Kececi. back to Hong Kong from the UK to meet her family in late The Hong Kong government November last year. She was announced the list of designated concerned about the long quarantine hotels for the quarantine period, “I’m an fifth cycle on July 30. About outdoorsy kind of person. I can’t 10,000 rooms are available stay confined for such a long at 36 hotels g for mandatory period of time. I’m pretty sure I quarantine between Sept. 1 and will go crazy,” said Ms. Chung. Nov. 30. “There are Asian Wong Yun-ting, a freelance countries, for example Singapore, entertainer, originally planned to with more infections than Hong fly from France to Hong Kong via Kong, whose policies are less Turkey. If things went as planned, strict and extreme,” she added. 13

Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View is the designated quarantine hotel that Wong Yun-ting stayed.

According to the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, travellers only have to undergo at most 14 days of home quarantine for inbound travellers, although Covid cases there have been increasing since September. With over 80% of its population fully vaccinated, Singapore has moved its goal from zero case

towards living with Covid. Professor Keiji Fukuda, director of the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong, explained that the incubation period of the virus is normally five to seven days, so a 14-day quarantine is to ensure travellers are Covid-free. While there are cases of people testing positive after three weeks, he 14

doesn’t think the new policy is necessary. “I personally think that we have to start moving forward with the virus and normalise activities because a zero-case policy is very hard to maintain,” Professor Fukuda said.

“There are Asian countries, for example Singapore, with more infections than Hong Kong, whose policies are less strict and extreme,” Chung Lai-wai

An air purifier is installed in Ramada Hong Kong Harbour View to improve the air quality. 15

Hotel stay generates hundreds of plastic food containers Reported by Kiki Lo Edited by Bowie Tse

After 14 days of quarantine, Lam Ki-ki, 40, left the hotel with not only her luggage but hundreds of take-out food trays. Instead of throwing them out, she trampled down to the community recycling store with her collection. More than 100 million plastic items, twice as much as 2019, were disposed of every week in Hong Kong during 2020 under Covid-19, according to the environmental group Greeners Action.

Lam Ki-ki, 40, is collecting plastic pieces during her 14day quarantine stay in Hong Kong.

Research published in the scientific journal Heliyon also showed that plastic waste surged as the coronavirus hit. Plastic waste in China increased to 108 million tonnes in 2020, up from about 60 million tonnes annually before Covid-19. According to Hong Kong government quarantine requirements, designated quarantine hotels must provide three meals a day for their guests. Most of the food came in plastic containers to ensure safe and contactless delivery.

Lam Ki-ki wiped, washed and sanitized the plastic containers during her quarantine and stored them in the bathtub of her hotel room. “After I counted the number of plastic containers my husband and I used in our first meal, I felt sorry for the environment. There were at least two to three plastic containers in each meal. There were two of us, and we had three meals a day,” Ms Lam said.

A typical meal during quarantine includes more than 10 plastic containers.

At least 18 or more plastic takeout-trays were used every day. In one of her meals, more than 10 plastic containers were used for the food and the sauce. Over a 14-day period, only two of the soup bowls were biodegradable. The number of plastic containers, bags, and cutlery added up to more than 250 after the two weeks.According to data from the Environmental Protection Department in 2019, plastic accounted for 21% of the city’s municipal solid waste, with an average of 2,320 tonnes dumped each day. Less than 9% of the plastic was recycled annually. Last year, the Environmental Protection Department installed 22 recycling stores in 18 districts across the city. They also collect and sort recyclables including paper, metal, glass bottles, and plastics.

Lam Ki-ki has generated more than 250 plastic waste during her isolation at the hotel.

Lam Ki-ki drops off the plastic containers at a community recycling store after quarantine.

Plastic trash is made into pellets or chips, which could be exported or used locally for making tote bags, jars and films. Greenpeace campaigner, Tam Wing-lam believed it’s the social responsibility of the government

and the hotels to give guests the option of using reusable tableware. “I think the hotel garbage problem is easier to solve than the usual waste problem, ” she said. 18

“Personally, I do not think many quarantined people would recycle because the hotels do not provide them with the support to do so,” Tam said. She said reducing waste at the source is the real solution to the

waste problem. “I appreciate that people recycle, but recycling was not a sustainable measure to reduce waste,” she added. Speaking at a press conference in August, Greenpeace suggested that the government should accelerate the ban on single-use plastic tableware and work with the catering industry to lend reusable cutlery to customers. Meanwhile, environmental groups WWF Hong Kong and the Conservancy Association

also agreed that the government should accelerate the pace of stopping plastic pollution, and step up its efforts to set a timetable for promoting the use of reusable tableware.

introducing reverse vending machines to collect plastic beverage containers in 2021.

Environment Protection Inspector Lai Chin Fung said the government has been promoting the concept of “plastic-free takeaway” through social media such as Facebook and Instagram, to encourage the public to go green when ordering takeaways. In addition to the plastic shopping bag charge, the EPD is also

Pie chart shows the number of plastic pieces Lam collected in her 14-day quarantine.

Travellers shocked at Hong Kong’s quarantine hotels: Clogged sinks, awful food and poor service Reported by Bruce Zhao Edited by Shameel Ibrahim

When Lau Kai Ching decided to come to Hong Kong from Malaysia, she found she had Reported by Jasmine Tse limited options in choosing a Edited by Simran Vaswani quarantine hotel. “I found that there were few designated hotels and most of them were full, especially those which were highly recommended by users on social media,” she said. “So I had

to choose one called Ramada Harbour View.” Once she arrived in September, things were not what she expected. “The most bothersome thing is that, in the toilet, the pipe doesn’t work very well and the water gets clogged very quickly. I asked some people to fix it but

the staff from the hotel said that they had no permission to enter the room of the traveller who was in quarantine,” she said. Lau said she wanted to change rooms but it required permission from the Department of Health. “Then I made a phone call to the department and the operator told me he had received the

“The most bothersome thing is that, in the toilet, the pipe doesn’t work very well and the water gets clogged very quickly,” Lau Kai Ching

Lau Kai Ching speaks to The Young Reporter by video from her quarantine hotel. 20

report and would arrange it as soon as possible,” she said.

“Fortunately, after three days, the blockage of the water pipe eased a little. It could barely work but the water flow was so slow that it took a long time to wash,” she said.

is much higher than supply, and hotels are regularly fully booked. Travelers who make it into the city are shocked at the poor condition of Hong Kong’s quarantine hotels, and social media is rife with complaints and photos of hair in sinks, trash on the ground, bloodstains on sheets, moldy walls, dirty air conditioners and even a used condom wrapper under a bed.

In Hong Kong, all inbound arrivals from outside of mainland China and Macau are required to quarantine in governmentdesignated hotels that must be booked before boarding the plane.

Eric Wishart , a journalist who was quarantined in Hong Kong from Sept. 4 to Sept. 25, was faced with similar problems. He said he found used slippers and a discarded condom wrapper under his bed.

In September, 92,398 people arrived in Hong Kong, according to the website of the immigration department.

But one of the biggest complaints is about the quality of food.

She said she received no reply after that.

Those from “high-risk” countries, such as the US, the UK and much of Europe, are required to undergo a 21-day quarantine and should be vaccinated. They are also required to undergo six compulsory tests during the period followed by a week of self-monitoring. Currently, 36 quarantine hotels with 10,000 rooms are available, ranging in price from around HK$500 for Silka Seaview Hotel’s standard room per night to HK$49,500 a night for the Landmark Mandarin Oriental’s “entertainment suite”. The median price is around HK$1,300 per day, according to the daily price calculations published in the HK Quarantine Support Facebook group. But demand

“The food provided every day was awful,” Lau said, describing her meals as “leftovers” and as one piece of chicken or beef in a “weird sauce with a few corn or onion granules and some rice placed in the same box.” “It is really difficult to give more detail on how the sauce tastes. In short, it is not good...I have paid over HK$10,000 for a 21-day quarantine including daily meals. But there was only one scheme provided by the hotel. I cannot choose another scheme with better food. My friends told me that in other hotels, travelers can choose better schemes with higher prices,” she said. The government requires quarantine hotels to provide three meals a day to guests. “There are no vegetables and fruit as well. I must use 21

Foodpanda to deliver them if I want to eat. When I was in quarantine after returning to Malaysia from Hong Kong last year, the fruit and vegetables were well provided. Government and hotels don’t consider our health at all,” Lau said. More than 50,000 people have joined the Facebook group “HK Quarantine Support Group”, with long threads both criticising and praising the hotels. “Filthy overpriced hotels, bad service and bad food - shame on Hong Kong. My heart aches what I have read below and I feel sorry for all of you who had to go through this,” read one member’s post. Another member complained about the same hotel Lau stayed in. “Avoid to stay if you can,” read the post. The user lamented about bloodstains on bedsheets, a lack of tables and chairs among others. Ashley Niu, a traveller from the mainland who was quarantined for seven days in the Best Western Plus Hotel Kowloon, complained about a dirty room. Niu said she could smell guests in other rooms smoking cigarettes. “The smoke alarm went off, but the service counter did nothing after receiving my report, neither helping me fix the ventilation system nor stopping the smoking guy,” she said. “The alarm always sounded late at night, disturbing my sleep,” she said. “During my quarantine, the fire alarm rang at least four times.”

Lau Kai Ching says the food provided by the Ramada Harbour view during her 21-day quarantine tasted like leftovers. (Photo: Lau Kai Ching)

“On the first day I came to the hotel, the power supply was broken. It was not repaired until the next day, and the air conditioner can only blow cold air of 20 degrees Celsius, which cannot be turned off or changed,” she said, adding that it made her room too cold. Henry*, a manager at one of the quarantine hotels who requested that his name and workplace not be disclosed, said they could not provide any help if any electrical appliance was not functioning, including an air conditioner or refrigerator. “The Department of Health forbids us doing anything that may make the workers contact with the guy in quarantine. And

there are too many people waiting to have a room for their quarantine. Even after the guest has left, we have no time to repair, because the next guest will come very soon,” the manager said.

“Food is OK but of course quite expensive. It is approximately HK $280 per day,” Li said, “ but the facilities and the environment were really good. Everything worked and the room was really clean and comfortable.”

Both Best Western Plus Hotel Kowloon and Ramada Harbour View did not respond to requests for comment.

*Based on the request of the interviewee, the name of the manager and the hotel will not be shown

Some travellers have said their experience in quarantine hotels was good. Fiona Li, a college student from the mainland studying in Hong Kong, said she booked a decent hotel at an affordable price for her quarantine at the Kimberley Hotel. 22

Journalist Eric Wishart finds used slippers and an empty condom wrapper under his bed at the Empire Hotel after he checked in for 21 day mandatory quarantine. (Photo: Eric Wishart)

Social media helps people deal with quarantine by delivering support, information

Reported by Kate Zhang Edited by Janice Lo

Li Xiaoyu’s room at Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road Kowloon where he underwent 14-day mandatory quarantine.Though the Novotel is not a government’s designated quarantine hotel, arrivals subject to home quarantine are allowed to stay anywhere. (Photo: Li Xiaoyu)

Li Xiaoyu, an 18-year-old university student from Jiangxi province, came to Hong Kong in late August to visit his grandfather. He was required to spend 14 days in quarantine upon arrival. But the nightmare began before he even left home. In early August, Mr Li booked what he thought was a quarantine hotel, but later found it was not a governmentdesignated hotel after the travel website he used called him. He cancelled it and started looking again. But all the hotels on the Hong Kong government’s list were full. Then the government announced that for home quarantine requirements, any hotel would work, not just governmentdesignated hotels. But by this point, Mr Li said he was so fatigued and frustrated by the lack of accurate information, he thought of cancelling the entire trip.

“People around me advised me to go next time, but I really wanted to see my grandfather,” he said. “I felt pretty depressed at that time because everything I’ve prepared so far, including the hotel booking, became useless after the constant changes in quarantine measures.” Mr Li then casually posted his confusion and bad mood on Weibo and to his surprise, he got help. His post immediately received more than 10 replies from helpful strangers. Online users who had gone through Hong Kong quarantine not only provided Mr Li with encouragement, they also gave him advice, such as the best time to go through border control to avoid long queues and the most cost-effective means of transportation to the designated hotel after arrival. “I didn’t expect I would get help from so many people through social media. Their responses

and support made me feel that I was not alone in dealing with quarantine and made my trip a smooth one,” said Mr Li, who eventually booked another hotel and travelled to Hong Kong. Quarantine support is happening all over social media, from Facebook and Instagram to Chinese social media platforms, such as Xiaohongshu and Douban. Groups are set up for users to exchange ideas and seek help regarding entry and quarantine in different countries. Users can take references from members who share their firsthand experiences in the groups. From the mainland, Deng Yawen, 23, is studying for a master’s degree in Hong Kong. In August, she published two posts on Xiaohongshu about how to enter Hong Kong and undergo mandatory quarantine. Ms Deng decided to share her quarantine experience because the children of her mother’s friend were coming to study

“Social media provides them a good way to connect with others and gain social support. It is also a good way to pass time given that quarantine can also be very boring,” Wang Jinping 25

Deng Yawen published two posts on Xiaohongshu, one about entering Hong Kong (left) and another one about quarantine (right). in Hong Kong and asked for quarantine tips. Yet, she found it troublesome to repeat the details multiple times, so she edited a note directly and shared it with those who needed it. She also thought it would be good to share insights with people who are preparing for quarantine because she was bored during hers. Her posts were flooded with questions, but she did not find replying to the inquiries tiring. “I do not only offer them help, but

they are also recognising my effort at the same time,” said Ms Deng. Another user, He Shuyang, 21, also posted about her quarantine experience in detail. Her top post has received more than 1,200 interactions and her number of followers has quintupled to over 100. Ms He said most of the content on the Internet is relatively ineffective as most of the posts were published a few years ago 26

and are not time-sensitive. To improve the quality of her posts, she provided as many details as she could. Ms He’s sharing on social media was pleasant overall, but there were times that she felt frustrated. Some users repeatedly asked the same question that was already explained in the post. “I am willing to answer their questions,” said Ms He, “but just do not repeat them over and over again.”

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With more than 3,000 members, the Hong Kong Quarantine Support Group, a private Facebook group discusses topics including COVID-19 testing and designated quarantine hotels.

at the last minute to take up the booking. “I have had members contact me to say how grateful they are that the group has been set up,” said Mr Hassam. “I did expect it to help others, but it seems it has helped more people than I thought - which is good.”

Jason Hassam, 49, a project director from London living in Hong Kong, created the group to help people undergoing Another private Facebook quarantine in Hong Kong. “I group, HK Quarantine Support myself went through quarantine Group, has more than 54,000 and I want people to get support members. from the group if they need it, as being in solitary confinement is “Social media provides them not a nice experience,” he said. a good way to connect with others and gain social support. The group has been a source It is also a good way to pass of comfort to those who time given that quarantine seek help before and after can also be very boring,” arriving in Hong Kong. Some said Wang Jinping, assistant members will even post hotel professor from the School of reservations that they no longer Journalism and Communication need in the group, allowing of the Chinese University of people who are looking for a Hong Kong, who researches designated hotel for quarantine social media.

“As to trust and sincerity, I guess it’s probably because we are facing common enemies – the virus and uncertainty about quarantine policies, so people need to learn from each other’s experience. Additionally, there won’t be any benefits if you lie about it on social media,” she added. Mr Li is also working on his own social media channel on Douyin. He is trying to film vlogs about his days in quarantine. “I think social media connects everyone together to contribute in their own ways,” he said.

He Shuyang filmed a vlog to show her room where she underwent her quarantine in Hong Kong. Text in Chinese: “Welcome to my home”