Rumor mongers get fake-news warning

Administration officials dismissed as fake news a report that authorities plan a territory-wide lockdown and a ban on dining in at restaurants from 6pm tonight to prevent the highly contagious Omicron Covid variant from spreading.

The message went viral on WhatsApp and Chinese-language social media yesterday morning, with some people reporting panic buying of necessities had started.

An official denial came within several hours, with a government spokesman condemning at 1.48pm "those who have spread rumors." He added that authorities had "absolutely no plan to place Hong Kong under lockdown."

And with the fake news causing public panic, he went on, law enforcers would take serious action "should any criminal elements be involved."

The spokesman also referred to a briefing by Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, director of health Ronald Lam Man-kin and Hospital Authority chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing on Friday, when they provided updates on the SAR's latest epidemic situation in the Moon Palace cluster.

They also announced extending a no-jab, no-entry "vaccine bubble" to restaurants and regulated premises before the Lunar New Year holiday from February 1.

The spokesman yesterday said authorities have "all along been transparent" with pandemic control measures and made announcements as early as possible. So "any unhelpful speculation or spreading of rumors" was counterproductive.

"We appeal to members of the public to be vigilant against rumors and pay attention to information released by the government to avoid being misled."

Yesterday's reports claimed Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Sophia Chan would announce jointly at 3.30pm "stringent measures to prevent the Omicron Covid variant from spreading across the community."

It said the SAR would close all borders from midnight and no one would be allowed to enter or leave, while restaurants could offer only

takeaway food after 6pm and premises such as bars, gyms, game centers, bath houses and karaoke clubs would be closed for 14 days.

The message also said: "Eateries, shopping malls, supermarkets, wet markets and shops can only operate until 9.30pm every day, while public transportation including buses and the MTR can only provide service until 11pm. "All unvaccinated people will be banned from high-risk premises including schools, care homes, construction sites, libraries, museums, cinemas and performance venues."

Despite the flat-out official denial, some netizens reported seeing more people than usual in supermarkets in the early afternoon.

"I saw someone buying 12 packs of rice in one go," one person wrote. "It was crazy."

But the fake news report was soon unraveled, when the press conference never happened at 3.30pm.

Barrister Albert Luk Wai-hung said it would be difficult for authorities to identify who first posted the fake news if was done through a private computer or phone.

But Luk said if the fake report was made on a public computer - one at a library or a coffee shop, for example - authorities could charge someone with criminal or dishonest intent.

The offense under the Crimes Ordinance carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.

When Hong Kong was hit by the first local Covid-19 wave in January to February 2020, the SAR experienced serious panic buying. That included people rushing to supermarkets and pharmacies to stock up on toilet paper, rice, canned food and face masks.

The Education Bureau, meanwhile, on Sunday night dismissed rumors that it was mulling class suspensions following media reports.

A bureau spokesman said the current face-to-face teaching arrangement will continue, while authorities will maintain close communication with schools in the event of adjustments.