'Threats to hospital strikers could speed up exodus'

'Threats to hospital strikers could speed up exodus'

Kwok Ka-ki speaks to RTHK's Joanne Wong

Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki has warned that the Hospital Authority's "threat" to penalise staff who joined a strike earlier this month is harming morale and could lead to resignations.



The party staged a protest outside the authority's headquarters on Argyle Street on Thursday afternoon, a day after some of those who went on strike received a letter telling them they could have wages deducted for their "absence from duty".



Several thousand doctors, nurses and medical assistants went on strike for five days from February 3 to pressure the government to fully close Hong Kong's border with the mainland, to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading to the SAR.



They also demanded sufficient protective gear to ensure frontline staff can stay safe when combating the disease.



Kwok told RTHK's Joanne Wong that he's disappointed by the Hospital Authority's "threats" against the strikers, and said the move could backfire.



"As we all know, their demands were not for themselves. They were not for money, wages, holidays, whatever. They were only asking for very sensible measures by the government to protect the people of Hong Kong, as well as the medical staff," he said.



"Disappointingly, not only are they [the Hospital Authority] not supporting their staff, they are actually now chasing the staff, trying to threaten the staff, [saying they] reserve the right to take further measures, including maybe disciplinary action. I think this is a disastrous attitude."



Kwok added that morale among hospital staff has been badly affected by the response to the strike.



"This actually will influence the quality of services provided to patients. And as we are facing a very severe shortage of manpower, if more staff resign – which has been the case for the past month – it will add more pressure or burden on existing staff."