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Another particularly notable issue has been zero-Covid policymakers’ lack of consideration for families, especially their children.

The widely reported case of a British mother in Hong Kong – referred to by her first name, Laura – being separated from her 11-month baby who tested positive for Covid sparked outrage and the local government ultimately changed the rules to allow parents to accompany their infected children in pediatric wards.

In Shanghai, it appears that the lesson was not learned with one case where a mother reportedly said she was forced to separate from her 2-year old daughter after the two tested positive for Covid, according to a «Reuters» report. The child would later be taken to a quarantine center and the mother, named Esther Zhao, said she has since had limited contact and knowledge of her well-being. 

International Backlash

Hong Kong has faced months of backlash from the international community from public statements issued by foreign business leaders about the threat of zero-Covid to the city’s hub status to the outright relocation of top executives to other hubs like Singapore. 

Just one week into its lockdown, Shanghai has also faced criticism from the international community.

«In addition to the strain on business, the population seems less willing to put up with lockdowns, as more and more erratic local policies erode citizens’ confidence in their local administrations,» said Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC), in an «SCMP» report. 

«Looking at what companies report, the situation is very difficult. Depending on how long the lockdown will last it will have quite a big impact on revenues in coming months,» added EUCCC’s Shanghai chapter chair Bettina Schoen. 

Admission by Leadership

Another interesting parallel between the two hubs has been the willingness of top leadership to admit the shortcomings of the zero-Covid measures.  

While it took Hong Kong authorities months before they recently conceded that talent may have left the city with Lam noting that «some of our financial institutions are losing patience about this isolated status», Shanghai has been quicker to accept responsibility. 

Shanghai municipal government’s secretary-general of Ma Chunlei said last week that local authorities were not sufficiently prepared for the latest wave of infections, adding that they «sincerely accept your criticism and are working hard to improve».

Sun Chunlan, vice-premier and member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo, called for the safeguarding of key industries alongside the «people’s basic living conditions and normal medical needs», though she added that China would maintain «unswerving adherence» to the zero-Covid approach.