IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v10y2023i1d10.1057_s41599-022-01467-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From SARS to COVID-19: the role of experience and experts in Hong Kong’s initial policy response to an emerging pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Kira Matus

    (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Naubahar Sharif

    (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Alvin Li

    (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Zhixin Cai

    (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Wai Haang Lee

    (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Max Song

    (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

As one of the most densely populated places in the world, Hong Kong fared relatively well in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a very low number of cases and fatalities per capita. This was mostly due to the Hong Kong government, healthcare workers, and the general public’s institutional and individual memory after they successfully overcame the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003. However, while Hong Kong was well accustomed to measures such as wearing masks and social distancing, the cooperation of the Hong Kong public to government restrictions was highly affected by its local political context, especially after widespread anti-government protests began mid-2019. This brought the public’s trust in government to an all-time low, creating a political ‘new normal’, which underpinned how COVID-19 policies would be proposed, accepted, and implemented, if at all. To understand how science advice was offered and how public health decisions were made, this research investigates the evolution of Hong Kong’s science advisory mechanisms for public health from before SARS, after SARS, and during COVID-19 in 2020, including the roles of key organisations and departments, the establishment of new centres and committees, and the creation of workgroups and expert advisory panels. This paper compares and analyses the reasons behind these differences in science advisory mechanisms between SARS and COVID-19. The findings from this research reinforce the unquestionable need for robust science advisory structures and knowledgeable scientific experts to solve health-related crises, though more research is required to understand the ways in which science advice influences both policy decisions and public acceptance of these policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Kira Matus & Naubahar Sharif & Alvin Li & Zhixin Cai & Wai Haang Lee & Max Song, 2023. "From SARS to COVID-19: the role of experience and experts in Hong Kong’s initial policy response to an emerging pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-022-01467-z
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-022-01467-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-022-01467-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-022-01467-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chan, Ho-Yin & Chen, Anthony & Ma, Wei & Sze, Nang-Ngai & Liu, Xintao, 2021. "COVID-19, community response, public policy, and travel patterns: A tale of Hong Kong," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 173-184.
    2. Janice Caulfield & Agnes Liu, 2006. "Shifting Concepts of Autonomy in the Hong Kong Hospital Authority," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 203-219, September.
    3. Arjen Boin & Sanneke Kuipers & Werner Overdijk, 2013. "Leadership in Times of Crisis: A Framework for Assessment," International Review of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 79-91, April.
    4. E. L. Quarantelli, 1988. "Disaster Crisis Management: A Summary Of Research Findings," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 373-385, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jenni Dinger & Michael Conger & David Hekman & Carla Bustamante, 2020. "Somebody That I Used to Know: The Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Social Identity in Post-disaster Business Communities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(1), pages 115-141, September.
    2. Lynch, Patrick & O'Toole, Thomas & Biemans, Wim, 2014. "From conflict to crisis in collaborative NPD," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(6), pages 1145-1153.
    3. Seoyong Kim & Seol A. Kwon & Jae Eun Lee & Byeong-Cheol Ahn & Ju Ho Lee & Chen An & Keiko Kitagawa & Dohyeong Kim & Jaesun Wang, 2020. "Analyzing the Role of Resource Factors in Citizens’ Intention to Pay for and Participate in Disaster Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-25, April.
    4. Otilia Maria Bordeianu, 2014. "The Need for Knowledge Management Strategy for Organisations Facing Changes," Romanian Economic Journal, Department of International Business and Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, vol. 17(54), pages 3-23, December.
    5. Chen, Tiantian & Fu, Xiaowen & Hensher, David A. & Li, Zhi-Chun & Sze, N.N., 2022. "Air travel choice, online meeting and passenger heterogeneity – An international study on travellers’ preference during a pandemic," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 439-453.
    6. Thatcher, Andrew & Vasconcelos, Ana C. & Ellis, David, 2015. "An investigation into the impact of information behaviour on information failure: The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power disaster," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 57-63.
    7. Andreas Hesse & Karin Kreutzer & Marjo-Riitta Diehl, 2019. "Dynamics of Institutional Logics in a Cross-Sector Social Partnership: The Case of Refugee Integration in Germany," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 679-704, October.
    8. Ali, Maged & Gomes, Lucas Moreira & Azab, Nahed & de Moraes Souza, João Gabriel & Sorour, M. Karim & Kimura, Herbert, 2023. "Panic buying and fake news in urban vs. rural England: A case study of twitter during COVID-19," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    9. Benedikte Bjerge & Nathan Clark & Peter Fisker & Emmanuel Raju, 2016. "Technology and Information Sharing in Disaster Relief," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, September.
    10. Charlotte Förster & Caroline Paparella & Stephanie Duchek & Wolfgang H. Güttel, 2022. "Leading in the Paradoxical World of Crises: How Leaders Navigate Through Crises," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 74(4), pages 631-657, December.
    11. Roger Wettenhall, 2009. "Crises and Natural Disasters: a Review of Two Schools of Study Drawing on Australian Wildfire Experience," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 247-261, September.
    12. Cristine de Clercy & Peter Ferguson, 2016. "Leadership in Precarious Contexts: Studying Political Leaders after the Global Financial Crisis," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(2), pages 104-114.
    13. Kyujin Jung & Minsun Song & Han Woo Park, 2018. "Filling the gap between bureaucratic and adaptive approaches to crisis management: lessons from the Sewol Ferry sinking in South Korea," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 277-294, January.
    14. Yasmin Kukul & Kedarnath Thakur & Lalatendu Kesari Jena, 2024. "Exploring Crisis Leadership During COVID-19: A Case Study on OYO," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 12(3), pages 462-473, July.
    15. Aurélien Acquier & Sébastien Gand & Mathias Szpirglas, 2006. "StakeS-holder Management and Crisis Resilience A case study in a public transportation company," Post-Print hal-00818108, HAL.
    16. Xu, Zeshui & Wang, Xindi & Wang, Xinxin & Skare, Marinko, 2021. "A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of entrepreneurship and crisis literature published from 1984 to 2020," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 304-318.
    17. Ghazaleh Ahmadi & Reza Tavakkoli-Moghaddam & Armand Baboli & Mehdi Najafi, 2022. "A decision support model for robust allocation and routing of search and rescue resources after earthquake: a case study," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 1039-1081, April.
    18. Toddi Steelman & Sarah McCaffrey & Anne-Lise Velez & Jason Briefel, 2015. "What information do people use, trust, and find useful during a disaster? Evidence from five large wildfires," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 76(1), pages 615-634, March.
    19. Bevaola Kusumasari & Quamrul Alam, 2012. "Bridging the gaps: the role of local government capability and the management of a natural disaster in Bantul, Indonesia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 60(2), pages 761-779, January.
    20. Anouck Adrot & Jean-Luc Moriceau, 2013. "Introducing performativity to crisis management theory : an illustration from the 2003 French heat wave crisis response," Post-Print hal-01451075, HAL.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-022-01467-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.