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CNN Live Sunday
Residents of Hong Kong Dissatisfied With Government's Handling of SARS Crisis
Aired April 27, 2003 - 18:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: SARS kills about 6 percent of the people it infects, and there is no known cure right now. Officials from the WHO, the World Health Organization, say it could take years to even find a virus, and that, of course, is bad news in Hong Kong, which, along with mainland China, has seen more than two-thirds of known SARS-related deaths. Lian Pek reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LIAN PEK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than 1,000 have fallen victim to the deadly SARS virus in Hong Kong. The economy, another casualty. Now, Hong Kong's leadership could also be at risk. Its people fed up with how the chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, and his government is handling the crisis.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His reaction is too slow. And I think he's not really suitable for the CEO of Hong Kong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very, very slow. I'm disappointed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He did a very bad job. I hope that he'll come down from the government very soon. I hate him very much.
PEK: With the SARS virus in China already claiming two political casualties, the health minister and Beijing mayor, both sacked for incompetence, Hong Kong's chief executive and his government are feeling the pressure to perform, especially when unflattering comparisons are being made with governments of other SARS infected company by businessmen like Christopher Lenz, who owns restaurants in both Hong Kong and Singapore.
CHRISTOPHER LENZ, OWNER, IGOR'S RESTAURANT: I think Singapore's reacted quicker, decisive moves right in the beginning, and the people of city have seen it, and I think they're responding to it, they know there is a threat, but it's being dealt with sharply. I think we're seeing that happen now in Hong Kong, but it took a little bit longer.
PEK: Why did it take a little longer? Tung says his government wanted to do the right thing.
TUNG CHEE-HWA, HONG KONG CEO (through translator): Actually, we're decisive in handling this crisis. We think that before we make the decision, we collect a variety of opinions and then we take the correct action. PEK: Too little too late, some say. With recent polls showing Tung's popularity falling to record lows, scrubbing the streets as part of the Clean Hong Kong campaign will do little, it seems, to spruce up his SARS-infected (ph) image.
FRED LI, DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEGISLATOR: Mr. Tung himself is a disaster, if you talk about the relationship with the media or the image in the eyes of the public. And so, you know, people don't want to see him on TV. Don't want to see him on the streets.
PEK: On the streets, Hong Kongers aren't expecting much anymore, not when they're driving a taxi and still making about $300 U.S. a month.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have no faith in the Tung government. It has not done one thing right. Life was better under British rule. Now we can't even make ends meet.
PEK (on camera): Perhaps when this disease is finally under control and the economy up on its feet again, the people of Hong Kong can start putting their faith back in the government. For now, it seems, the damage is already done.
Lian Pek, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Handling of SARS Crisis>
Aired April 27, 2003 - 18:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: SARS kills about 6 percent of the people it infects, and there is no known cure right now. Officials from the WHO, the World Health Organization, say it could take years to even find a virus, and that, of course, is bad news in Hong Kong, which, along with mainland China, has seen more than two-thirds of known SARS-related deaths. Lian Pek reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LIAN PEK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than 1,000 have fallen victim to the deadly SARS virus in Hong Kong. The economy, another casualty. Now, Hong Kong's leadership could also be at risk. Its people fed up with how the chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, and his government is handling the crisis.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His reaction is too slow. And I think he's not really suitable for the CEO of Hong Kong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very, very slow. I'm disappointed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He did a very bad job. I hope that he'll come down from the government very soon. I hate him very much.
PEK: With the SARS virus in China already claiming two political casualties, the health minister and Beijing mayor, both sacked for incompetence, Hong Kong's chief executive and his government are feeling the pressure to perform, especially when unflattering comparisons are being made with governments of other SARS infected company by businessmen like Christopher Lenz, who owns restaurants in both Hong Kong and Singapore.
CHRISTOPHER LENZ, OWNER, IGOR'S RESTAURANT: I think Singapore's reacted quicker, decisive moves right in the beginning, and the people of city have seen it, and I think they're responding to it, they know there is a threat, but it's being dealt with sharply. I think we're seeing that happen now in Hong Kong, but it took a little bit longer.
PEK: Why did it take a little longer? Tung says his government wanted to do the right thing.
TUNG CHEE-HWA, HONG KONG CEO (through translator): Actually, we're decisive in handling this crisis. We think that before we make the decision, we collect a variety of opinions and then we take the correct action. PEK: Too little too late, some say. With recent polls showing Tung's popularity falling to record lows, scrubbing the streets as part of the Clean Hong Kong campaign will do little, it seems, to spruce up his SARS-infected (ph) image.
FRED LI, DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEGISLATOR: Mr. Tung himself is a disaster, if you talk about the relationship with the media or the image in the eyes of the public. And so, you know, people don't want to see him on TV. Don't want to see him on the streets.
PEK: On the streets, Hong Kongers aren't expecting much anymore, not when they're driving a taxi and still making about $300 U.S. a month.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I have no faith in the Tung government. It has not done one thing right. Life was better under British rule. Now we can't even make ends meet.
PEK (on camera): Perhaps when this disease is finally under control and the economy up on its feet again, the people of Hong Kong can start putting their faith back in the government. For now, it seems, the damage is already done.
Lian Pek, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Handling of SARS Crisis>
