March 29, 2024

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Free For All Food

people supplied meals they possibly are unable to take in, or cannot open



Government officers stand guard at the perimeter of the lockdown zone in Yau Ma Tei. Photo: Sam Tsang


© SCMP
Federal government officers stand guard at the perimeter of the lockdown zone in Yau Ma Tei. Image: Sam Tsang

Residents within a locked down Hong Kong neighbourhood have expressed worries about their food supplies, with some boosting queries above the inclusion of pork, a deficiency of veggies, and no very hot meals in offers from the authorities.

Some 10,000 people have been sealed off because 4am on Saturday in the Yau Tsim Mong district, as officers carry out crisis testing for Covid-19.

With members of ethnic minorities and a sizeable quantity of elderly people residing in the some 200 structures underneath lockdown, the foodstuff getting provided has been brought into query.

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In response, senior Hong Kong officers stated they had been delivering foods to the needy, and integrated non-meat selections in food stuff packages, providing goods this sort of as bread, snacks, and fruit.



Yau Tsim Mong lockdown on Jan 23


© Provided by South China Morning Submit
Yau Tsim Mong lockdown on Jan 23

The governing administration explained staff at short term stations would provide each and every resident with a light-weight food that integrated prompt noodles, beverages, and fruit. A bottle of hand sanitiser and a box of masks have been also offered.

But resident, Jordan-Manik Mohammad, who is at first from Bangladesh and life in the tests zone on Temple Street, stated pork products, this kind of as canned spam, were not appropriate for him as a Muslim.

Even if they have been, Mohammad claimed he lacked the implies to open up them, as he does not personal a can opener.

In its place the 33-12 months-aged, and his flatmate, have been ingesting meals they acquired in advance of the limitations have been imposed at 4am on Saturday.

“But it is almost completed, so we are just waiting,” he stated. “I don’t know what to do since we are unable to go outdoors.”

Second screening spherical proposed for Hong Kong lockdown website if Covid-19 cases spiral

Other residents, this kind of as Shova Gurung, who is from Nepal, are vegetarian.

“I experienced my searching accomplished beforehand so I am even now cooking my individual veggies, but if the lockdown receives extended then I will run out of my vegetables shortly,” the waitress, who is effective in Causeway Bay, explained. “But at least they have offered food stuff for us.”

Mohammad Ilyas, Secretary for the Islamic Neighborhood Fund for Hong Kong, mentioned they were being consulting law enforcement and other related departments to provide right foodstuff for customers of ethnic minorities.

“I imagine they ought to be more sensitive in the direction of using care of the non-Chinese local community,” he said.

However, Adeel Malik, from the Muslim Council of Hong Kong, stated they comprehended the need to have to be affected individual due to the fact the measures have been just for two times.

“In reality, of class, we would like ethnic minorities to be better catered for, but the truth there is canned fish that is great. One protein is there,” he claimed.



Government officers stand guard at the perimeter of the lockdown zone in Yau Ma Tei. Photo: Sam Tsang


© Supplied by South China Early morning Publish
Govt officers stand guard at the perimeter of the lockdown zone in Yau Ma Tei. Image: Sam Tsang

A resident of Indian ethnicity who lives on Temple Avenue, and questioned to be identified as Naresh, stated as a Hindu he, his spouse, and 3 children, could only try to eat the non-meat merchandise in the offers.

“We did not consider pork goods, just noodles and bread and some fruit also,” claimed the 35-yr-outdated, who runs an Indian cafe.

His family obtained their destructive Covid-19 success on Sunday and had stayed inside for the previous two times.

Naresh was hopeful he would be capable to open up the cafe on Monday, but apprehensive the drastic measures may possibly scare off customers at a time when his organization was presently suffering, and he was paying employees out of his own pocket.

Explainer | What lockdown signifies for countless numbers in Hong Kong, who it has an effect on

In a media briefing on Sunday early morning, Main Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung was requested why luncheon meat was involved in food items deals when numerous people do not consume pork.

“It is really because we did not only give food items to persons from different ethnic minority backgrounds,” Cheung explained. “We did not concentrate on any team, and you will find fish, noodles and many unique styles of food stuff.

“There had been also various varieties of canned food stuff, such as tuna … soup packs, white bread, chocolate and muesli bars and fruits. These are for residents to get freely.”

Just after the lockdown started, district councillors, which includes Owan Li, stated some elderly people struggled with even fundamental cooking, with some unable to eat canned meat as they did not have the suggests to open it.

“These elderly individuals depend closely on social personnel to provide food stuff and other means, but the social staff can no lengthier enter the spot,” he claimed. “They can not even cook prompt noodles, not to mention they could possibly not have can openers. The federal government should have thought of delivery of sizzling dishes.”

Li said some citizens, who did not have food items at residence, waited up to four hours to obtain the objects right after they had known as a governing administration hotline.

Secretary for Residence Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai mentioned scorching food items was remaining delivered to those people in want.

“As you know in Hong Kong, we do have meal services for the needy, people with exclusive requires, and the aged. In the course of this lock down procedure, we do present such a service,” he reported.

“For special cases, we will be on the ground to take care of them. So, we try to accommodate them as very best as we can.”

But Li’s council colleague, Frank Ho Fu-wing, who signifies the tough-strike place of Jordan North, mentioned individuals had been not conversing about the ongoing meal company for the needy, but incredibly hot food stuff for other people.

“The sensitivity to the requires of the elderly and the ethnic minority is, I think, not more than enough,” he explained. “Some amid the ethnic minority neighborhood have instructed me they would like to have some rice, and some people today do not try to eat pork. We have seen the government however make this slip-up once again.”

As of 6.30pm, citizens who examined negative for the virus could go away and re-enter the locked down area presented they dress in an official wristband, according to the House Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui. All restrictions had been anticipated to be lifted by midnight.

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This post originally appeared on the South China Morning Article (www.scmp.com), the main news media reporting on China and Asia.

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