Singapore which implemented quarantine order like China, restricted purchase of essentials at supermarkets and in spite of having more cases is more effective in managing nCOV and public panic buying. Supermarkets are replenished again quickly.
Hong Kong is operating as free market economy where anyone can buy what they need, so most people stock up as much as they need and during this panic none of the big private players are capable to handle it, as they want to profit from it. In this scenario planned economy like China and Singapore works much better than free market economy. So probably it’s a failure of Hong Kong’s free market economy.
In Hong Kong many healthcare staff assigned to take care of infected people resign and many go on a strike when a collective response to handle an epidemic is needed. They went on a strike to close borders and ask local government not to bring back Hong Kong residents and people stuck in Mainland.
Are there laws against so-called "profiteering"? That's the first thing I want to know. Because when the consumer begins to panic and act irrationally, the quickest thing to bring him or her back to reality is a much higher price. The high price causes people to economize.
> prices would just be very high for the scarse goods
I believe that's getting close to the description of profiteering - depending on what exactly is not available and gets expensive. This could cause poor people to rebel, which again, results in empty shelves.
In truly free market when government do not intervene shelves will always be kept at the minimum to profit from panic. It’s because demand and supply is controlled by rich and high price exclude the non rich. That’s the reason systems are crumbling in Hong Kong.
Still cannot find any tiolet paper. But unlike all the states he said HK is more individualist than say Singapore. The failure of the state is in a sense not that true but failure of the top tier of the government. and it is not a failure to act but it is overstep of them that is problem, not the failure of the overall state (all government organisation, gov sponsored org. etc ) and civil society. if they do not change, the overall government (not just top tier and police) would collapse with the civil society.
We still fighting the top tier and the germ. As said it is not hope we have. It is by trying we might have hope.
Tl; dr
The top tier can let in mask long time ago and we will not have problem now. The top tier can follow medical advice and close the border like Singapore and even macau or ... Wuhan. Instead we have a hard time to buy it overseas. In fact we still do as the top tier failed and in the way.
you may think that is an argument of words. But it is not. If you want even more stronger state fit an event ultimately rely upon individual to stay alert and healthy, instead still go around to do hot pot with your family from china and got at least 7 out of 20 infected, you need some top tier action but also some citizen action. But that is not in.
Instead it try to a strong and in fact a police state. They ask for scouts even to quarantine centre but not police. Because the police still acting like they are just nothing happened. And just arrest 119 people in remembrance of a protestor.
the top tier should know police cannot do all things. but they cannot fulfill their duty, except continue to arrest people in peaceful gathering. Just arrest 119 for a remembrance...
No it is not a failure of the state in the sense it failed. It is the success they think that is the problem. The top tier just too strong on one agenda. Hence the fix is not the success of the state. But the change strategy of the state. If not, the whole system no matter his strong the civil society is cannot survive.
"failed" is not the same as deliberately sabotaged - CN is actively restricting resources, treatment, medical access, and beating any occupants who disagree.
Maybe they deserve this? Maybe Hong Kong should fail?
* They firebombed a hospital/building that would’ve served as the quarantine location. This could’ve saved them, but instead, their stupidity doomed them.
* They destroyed city services without realizing, or caring, of their precarious situation.
* Their political backers wanted their city to fail, in order to be the sacrificial lamb, so that China could be destroyed. Interestingly enough, their dreams may be getting closer. And all it took was a novel little virus. The loss of life will be very high indeed, including their own, but they don’t care, nor do their political backers.
* The doctors and nurses abandoned their positions during a crisis, but they have a civic responsibility, and are the first responders to a health crisis. But they just left their posts. Now the people must fend for themselves. What about when this actually becomes real? Are they going to run too? It looks like they will.
I don’t have the answers, nor do I want Hong Kong to fail. But Mother Nature is on deck, and she’s going to take her toll.
>The doctors and nurses abandoned their positions during a crisis,
Um... No. The government refuse to take ANY action with regards to health and Safety. Would you blame firefighters for not getting into situation with inadequate gear?
Hong Kong is operating as free market economy where anyone can buy what they need, so most people stock up as much as they need and during this panic none of the big private players are capable to handle it, as they want to profit from it. In this scenario planned economy like China and Singapore works much better than free market economy. So probably it’s a failure of Hong Kong’s free market economy.
In Hong Kong many healthcare staff assigned to take care of infected people resign and many go on a strike when a collective response to handle an epidemic is needed. They went on a strike to close borders and ask local government not to bring back Hong Kong residents and people stuck in Mainland.