Ordinary Gweilo

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Mask

Every now and then I see someone wearing a mask out on on the street or in a shopping centre. Obviously this is a reminder of the SARS outbreak when almost everyone in Hong Kong (apart from a few stubborn gweilos) wore masks. At the time I thought it was a complete over-reaction given that the risks of catching SARS from travelling on public transport was tiny and the risk of catching it when walking in the street must have been almost non-existent. I suppose it was understandable, but the effect was to make the problem seem worse than it was. Plus there was a lot of evidence that most masks weren’t terribly effective.

So my first reaction on seeing someone walking along the street wearing a mask is to wonder why are they doing it. Are they worried about catching something, or are they being very considerate and trying not to spread their germs to other people? Would it make any difference if people with colds did wear paper masks, or is it just a waste of time?

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3 responses to “Mask”

  1. Ron avatar
    Ron

    Chris, this [new] trend of wearing masks when one has caught cold, has a running nose, etc., comes from the [former – i.e. before SARS] practice in Japan.
    You see, Japanese people are a tad too odd and use such masks since a long time [long before SARS]. They consider[ed] it as a polite behavior of not affecting other people.
    During SARS, Japan had the lowest numbers of infected. So now, basically, some local people are doing the same as Japanese when they catch cold, etc.
    Whether it helps or not, well, I am not sure. But singling out themselves with masks and the well known [to locals] fact that Japanese also do that when suffering from cold or flu, seems to puff them up with pride.
    Next, I think they will start drinking pee and all those utterly disgusting things that many Japanese do as well.
    P.s.: After North America, Japan is the second country to export its culture to Hong Kong and parts of Asia Pacific.
    Cheers!

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  2. Chris avatar
    Chris

    Makes sense I suppose – Japanese culture undoubtedly influences Hong Kong life in a big way.

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  3. Phil avatar
    Phil

    Ron is right. Plus people are generally more considerate in Hong Kong than foreign imports give them credit for and many will wear a mask if they have a cold out of consideration for others.

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