Thread by @joshuawongcf

[Say no to digital authoritarianism,
Boycott universal testing]

1. Defying doubts, #HKgov will impose universal testing in #HK, a citywide DNA collection viewed as a way for more surveillance. Medical experts repeatedly raised concerns below that are completely ignored by gov:

2. No inflow curb: test can only be achieved w/ full border seal, stay-at-home order & full population testing in short time. All don’t exist in HK. As #Hkgov now exempt tens of thousands ppl from quarantine, main factor for #HK third wave, the test is deemed to failure w/ leaks.

3. High false-negative rate: #COVID19 studies suggest that false-negative rate of current testers ranges from 20% to 100%. This unreliable testing result will create a misleading virus-free perception, which will further worsen the outbreaks in the community.

4. No scientific proof: WHO experts said board population testing is costly & unrealistic, while health minister of Taiwan also said universal testing is not practical to block sources of infection and stressed the importance of border closures instead.

5. Risky sampling process: sampling process often induces coughs & sneezes, which pollute the air w/ droplets that can survive for days on surfaces. As all testing centers operate 12 hrs a day w/ limited time to disinfect, it only increases the risk of contact transmitted spread.

6. Unreliable laboratory: The laboratory responsible for HK universal testing, Sunrise, is owned by #China’s company BGI. BGI was found by Swedish govt that thousands of its test kits generate false positive results.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/0…

7. Unusual CCP propaganda: Despite doubts by medical professionals, #Beijing’s propaganda machine, from #CCP mouthpiece to China’s officials, dismiss all our doubt. It fuels more concerns that the plan is a large-scale DNA collection paving way to #China-style surveillance regime

8. Given the unreliability of the test and high potential of DNA abuse for surveillance, #Hongkongers will boycott the proposed universal testing. We urge #HKgov to halt the plan and take other effective measures, such as full border seal, to curb the virus.