'Well-being of people goal of central govt'

Liaison Office chief visits residents in subdivided flat and pledges support

The well-being of Hong Kong's grassroots population has always been at the heart of the central government, Liaison Office Director Luo Huining said on Thursday during a visit to low-income residents in various locations.

The visits came the day that the city was celebrating both the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the Mid-Autumn Festival - the traditional family reunion day.

Luo said the central government has always been gravely concerned about the pandemic situation in Hong Kong as well as the safety and health of Hong Kong compatriots.

Luo noted examples from the pandemic in which the strong bond between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland has been heightened.

For example, at the onset of the pandemic, which hit the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in January, a 74-year-old woman surnamed Ng in Siu Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island donated to the mainland HK$110,000 ($14,200) - a large portion of her savings stashed away during her frugal life - to help combat the health crisis.

Despite living on a low income, Ng said that as a Chinese national, she felt she was obliged to chip in when she saw the whole nation was rushing to support Hubei province, hardest hit by the pandemic in January.

Ng strongly agreed with what Luo said in a TV speech on Wednesday, that all Hong Kong people, as Chinese nationals, should love the country, and loving the country is an obligation and the right thing to do.

Luo, touched by the good Samaritan's generosity, said Ng's kindness to the mainland people stands as another living embodiment of the strong bond between Hong Kong people and their mainland compatriots.

Over 570 medical experts were sent to Hong Kong from the Chinese mainland to assist the city in the Universal Community Testing Programme when the pandemic was ravaging the city. The central government is also helping build temporary medical facilities to cope with the surging need.

Luo said that through the concerted efforts of the central government and the special administrative region in tackling COVID-19, Hong Kong will certainly be able to defeat the pandemic.

The pandemic has hit many sectors in the city, especially the grassroots community, highlighting Hong Kong's long-standing issues of land-supply shortages and income disparity.

In a subdivided flat of less than 8 square meters in the city's poor district of Sham Shui Po, Luo met with an unemployed man who has been doing odd jobs during the pandemic. The man has had to be separated from his wife and daughter, who returned to the mainland.

After chatting with the man for 20 minutes, Luo, who was saddened by the man's living situation, said his office will do its best to help the man find a job to improve his quality of life. Luo also asked the man to rest assured about the Hong Kong government's efforts to bail out various sectors to boost the economy amid the pandemic and last year's prolonged street violence.

Luo also handed out mooncakes and anti-pandemic items to the residents.
Over the past few days, officials from the office have made efforts to visit Hong Kong residents in various locations to convey their care and support for them.
gangwen@chinadaily.com.cn