Covid China, ‘fear’ for Xi Jinping after the visit to Hong Kong

The dream of a ‘Covid-free visit’ to Hong Kong for Xi Jinping has vanished. A deputy, portrayed in a group photo with the Chinese leader – a supporter of the Zero-Covid policy – tested positive for coronavirus. Xi was last week in Hong Kong on the occasion of the ‘Handover’ anniversary, 25 years after Hong Kong’s transition from British rule to China’s “special administrative region”. It was his first – super-armored – exit from mainland China since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. For the occasion, the Guardian points out, Xi spent less than 24 hours in Hong Kong, where John Lee took over from Carrie Lam as ‘chief executive’. And the Chinese leader only met people who had been in quarantine to reduce the risk of contagion. Xi’s health is among the most sensitive issues for the Asian giant. For now, everything is silent in Beijing, but in the spotlight is Steve Ho Chun-yin, of the largest pro-Beijing party, who revealed that he tested positive in a Covid test, one day after meeting Xi, the June 30, when the results of the checks were negative. “I didn’t just say ‘hello president’ to Xi, I also said ‘thank you for your hard work, president’ – wrote Ho on social media – He nodded to me. He is very affable.” I have two rows behind Xi for the group photo. All with the mask on. He attended an event with about eighty people. Then Ho was not at the celebrations of July 1st for an “uncertain” result of the Covid test that day and then again he tested positive. As had happened before Xi’s visit to two other Hong Kong officials, and the fact that someone who has been in contact with Xi tested positive for Covid will be seen as a blow to the Hong Kong administration, CNN points out. remembering the time and resources invested for the visit that was wanted ‘Covid-free’. With hundreds of Hong Kong officials and politicians who, prior to Xi’s visit (who did not spend the night in Hong Kong but preferred to go back and forth with Shenzhen), they could not help but move between home and work in private cars . And that they had to spend a night in a quarantine hotel on the eve of the ‘Handover’ anniversary celebrations. Not to mention the daily Covid tests.