Frenchie comes to the rescue - for once!

"The Australians put the military on the streets ... hovering helicopters over homes, demanding compliance with Covid rules."

Earlier this year, the government here raised the possibility of compulsory Covid vaccinations for some professions. Immediately, a cry went out that this is further proof of Hong Kong's freedoms under attack. The usual pundits piled in with screams of 'white terror and the end of liberty.' 

Strange that the same people are silent as France (Liberté, égalité, fraternité) mandates vaccinations. Meanwhile, CNN — that bastion of press freedom — fired three staff for failing to get the jab. So that's alright then!

I have droned on about this before — you can adapt any change to claim 'freedom' is gone. Moreover, applied with skill, this can disorientate the unthinking while burnishing your credentials as a freedom fighter. 

It is, of course, true that on some occasions, genuine freedoms get taken away. But you need to pick your examples with care by weighing this against other dimensions such as the 'greater good'.  

So with cover provided by CNN and the French, Hong Kong civil servants are now compelled to take the jab or face weekly Covid tests. Discipline action is also a possibility against those who don't comply.

For folks with genuine medical issues, supported by proper certification, exceptions are possible. Note: the ramblings of a friend on the internet, who acquired her medical knowledge through WhatsApp, won't suffice. 

Thus, with a whimper, most will people fall in line. Meanwhile, the universities are getting in on the act.

As if to help, the Australians put the military on the streets while hovering helicopters over homes, demanding compliance with Covid rules. So do I sense that those sneering and calling out Hong Kong are struggling against the tide?

If that's the accepted international standard, as set by Western democracies, Hong Kong enjoys a liberal regime. 

Lastly, as a public service, I'd like to remind you of the side effects of Covid vaccines. These include:

• Smugness
• An absurd interest over whether friends had Pfizer or Sinovac
• A wilful desire to compliment the efficiency of vaccine staff
• An ability to annoy the unvaccinated with "When are you getting jabbed?"
• A misplaced feeling of immortality. 
• Personalised Facebook posts declaring "I'm Vaccinated". 

Beware.