Page 11 - Sphere No.9 (Sep 2003)

BouncingBack
When Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) struck in March 2003, Hong Kong’s spirit of
resolve and solidarity proved to be a powerful medicine in the fight against the disease.
By Mark Caldwell
S PHERE
9
T HE SARS VIRUS HIT THE TERRITORY LIKE A TYPHOON, FELLING MEMBERS OF THE
public and wreaking havoc on businesses. But Hong Kong demonstrated its famous resilience by
staging an immediate and effective fight-back.The combined efforts of the government, corporate
sector and private citizens drew into sharp focus the city’s formidable “can do” attitude, winning acclaim
from the World Health Organization and the international community at large.
As one of the most prominent and successful companies in the region, Hutchison Whampoa
immediately took up the challenge to help beat SARS, focusing the full force of its considerable human
and managerial resources on providing relief for victims, assistance to healthcare workers and support for
the general population. The Li Ka-shing Group raised and contributed HK$6,549,474 (approximately
US$840,000).
Life has returned to normal in this bustling metropolis. Residents have adopted a much more hygienic
and caring approach to everyday living, and the community is lobbying hard for tourists to return. Hong
Kong is a little sadder in the wake of the tragedy, but it is also much stronger.
Like many healthcare colleagues battling
in the frontline to stem the SARS
outbreak, Caroline Fu *, a nurse at
Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) fell
victim to the virus in early April and was
hospitalised.
Her husband Peter, who is on the
pharmacy staff at PMH, was left to take
care of their 6-year-old daughter.
To prevent the virus from spreading,
patients were put in quarantine with no
visitors allowed.
“For the first two weeks, I felt
powerless to help Caroline because,
although we could speak to each other
by mobile phone, it was so hard to
provide emotional support without
being able to see or touch,” Peter recalls.
“We felt very isolated from each other.”
Then, halfway through Caroline’s
illness, the Fu family’s prayers were
answered.
Understanding the needs of patients to
be able to see their loved ones,
Hutchison Global Communications
(HGC) responded swiftly.
As owner of Hong Kong’s largest fibre-
optic network, HGC deployed its
extensive technical know-how to provide
free “Video Visit Services” at Princess
Margaret andWong Tai Sin Hospitals.
To keep families and friends abreast of
patients’ condition and rate of recovery,
HGC set up computers equipped with
video telephony services in the isolation
wards which in turn were connected to
Video Service Centres in the hospital
lobbies. The process involved laying
broadband cables linking to the HGC
fibre-optic network, testing the computer
equipment and providing logistics
services to set up a booking system.
Once the Video Visit Service was in
operation, Peter and Caroline were among
the first to experience this novel service.
“Knowing that I could finally talk to
my wife ‘face-to-face,’ I naturally also
brought our daughter who wanted very
much to see her mother,” Peter recalls.
“The service ran extremely smoothly.
There was no delay, the transmission was
flawless and the resolution was perfect.
Amidst all the worry, it was a very special
moment for us. As a family, we were
extremely grateful for the service.”
Dr Ko Wing-man, Director
(Professional Services & Public Affairs)
of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority
(HKHA) said the Video Visit Service
provided more than just a safe and
convenient visiting option. “I believe
[it] was a strong factor in their recovery,”
he said.
The initiative was in fact a joint
effort between several members of the
Li Ka-shing group of companies.While
HGC provided full back-up and
support, the Li Ka Shing Foundation
donated 50 computers and Cheung
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals.