HK’s U-turn on jabs by force

Hong Kong – Hong Kong yesterday scrapped a plan to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory for foreign domestic workers after the proposal sparked an outcry and a diplomatic tussle.

But authorities ordered all foreign helpers to undergo another round of mandatory testing, triggering renewed criticism from the Philippines.

Health officials planned to roll out mandatory inoculations for the 370 000 domestic workers in the city, mostly poorly paid women from the Philippines and Indonesia.

Those wanting to apply for work visas – or renew their current ones – would need to show they had received two doses.

But yesterday, city leader Carrie Lam announced a U-turn.

“The government has decided not to request mandatory vaccination when helpers renew their contracts,” she said, adding the decision had been made after meetings with officials from the Philippines and Indonesia.

Philippine foreign affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin had previously said the initial proposal “smacked of discrimination”.

Health officials announced the mandatory vaccination plan of all domestic workers last month after two were found to be infected with one of the more virulent strains of the coronavirus. –