Tsang tragedy hits home with health bosses

The death of 87-year-old veteran actor Kenneth Tsang Kong in a quarantine hotel has renewed calls from health experts to allow elderly arrivals, especially those with chronic diseases, to observe home isolation.

Tsang who had hypertension had asked his family to deliver medication following chest discomfort the night before he was found unconscious in his Kowloon Hotel room in Tsim Sha Tsui on Wednesday, two days after he flew back from a solo trip to Singapore and Malaysia.

The Centre for Health Protection’s Chuang Shuk-kwan said health officials were not notified of Tsang having felt unwell, but around 8pm on Tuesday, Tsang called reception to tell them a relative would drop off supplies, and the package was delivered to his room before 9pm.

He had tested negative Health officers went to the hotel Wednesday to conduct a PCR test on the third day of his return, but no one answered the door, and that’s when he was found unconscious.

Chuang said a returnee requiring special care can apply to the Department of Health for a carer to watch over him during quarantine and that authorities will review if the arrangements can be improved.

University of Hong Kong infectious disease expert Ho Pak-leung suggested authorities allow arrivals meeting certain requirements to observe quarantine at home.

Ho said the elderly, particularly those with preexisting conditions, are prone to heart attacks or strokes.

He said Hong Kong is so out of touch, as over 180 countries have canceled quarantine, with 100 even ditching arrival tests.

Singapore’s move to require arrivals in home quarantine to use location-tracking devices and to report locations regularly was seen by Ho as a way to go.

Elderly specialist Paul Shea Tat-ming said most Hong Kong seniors suffer from the “three highs” in blood pressure, sugar and fat and so they need medication daily or the risk of a heart attack and stroke increases if they skip pills for three days or more.

Most chronically-ill elderly take six to seven types of pills a day, and should have twice the dosage if they are isolating alone.

“Relatives should have video calls with them every day,” he said.

The actor’s daughter Musette Tsang Mo-suet, after identifying her dad at Kwai Chung Public Mortuary, said “there weren’t many things that the hotel could do … We really don’t want to talk anymore about this.”

On his health, she said: “His condition was normal as an elderly man, with hypertension and stuff. Hopefully he has brought people good memories and good stories. Let’s all remember his youthful and handsome looks and good acting skills.”

Tsang had said he wanted a peaceful death without too much hospitalization so his wife, Taiwanese actress Lisa Chiao Chiao, 79, would not have to care for him for a long time.