Coronavirus: thousands of Hong Kong hospital workers back strike to demand closure of border with mainland China
Various hospital workers’ groups rail against government’s refusal to close all checkpoints along boundary with mainland China
Pro-democracy Hospital Authority Employees Alliance, which has 18,000 members, votes in favour of industrial action as early as Monday
Thousands of Hong Kong doctors, nurses and hospital employees have voted for a strike which could begin as early as Monday, to press the government to close all borders with mainland China amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The pro-democracy Hospital Authority Employees Alliance announced that, of 3,156 eligible votes cast on Saturday, 3,123 were in support of the strike, while only 10 people voted against, and another 23 abstained. There were eight invalid votes.
South China Morning Post
Hong Kong hospital workers vote to strike over coronavirus concerns
More than 3,000 doctors, nurses, and other hospital workers in Hong Kong voted in favor of striking unless the city closes its border with mainland China, the South China Morning Post reported.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said she wouldn’t close the border over fears of fueling discrimination.
Other countries around the world, like the US, Japan, and Australia have imposed restrictions on entry from China.
Business Insider
Hong Kong Nurses Threaten Strike Over Coronavirus Fears : Goats and Soda : NPR