Lock down of Hong Kong dismissed as fake news

The Hong Kong government has no plan to lock down the city, a spokesman clarified as he denounces fake news spreading online.

Authorities never plan to stop people from going in and out of Hong Kong. Nor did the government plan to stop allowing dine-in at restaurants, the spokesman said.

The comment came after a message went viral on Whatsapp and online platforms on Monday, saying the Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee would hold a press conference on Monday to announce locking down the city on Tuesday.

The message also claimed all restaurants would stop providing dine-in service after 6pm, and sports facilities and entertainment venues would close for 14 days. It even claimed overnight transportation would stop.
The government spokesman criticized people for spreading the fake news and causing public panic.

He added that law enforcers would act if the message involves criminal elements.

“Circulating unnecessary speculations and rumors is not helpful in the fight against the pandemic,” he said.