Pro-Beijing media and politicians call for Cathay Pacific to be punished over Omicron

Pro-Beijing news organisations and politicians in Hong Kong have called for punitive action against Cathay Pacific after its crew breached quarantine rules and started an Omicron outbreak. Two newspapers linked to the Chinese government ran multiple news reports and commentaries on Monday that said the carrier should be investigated and crew members who violated coronavirus rules criminally prosecuted. “[Cathay’s] top management definitely needs to be held to account. The government should look into ways to take follow-up action,” said Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s sole delegate on the standing committee of China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress. The airline declined to comment on the reports and accusations. The scrutiny of the carrier comes as Hong Kong officials are trying to contain the fallout from a large birthday party held this month attended by senior officials and lawmakers. Two individuals who went to the party of more than 200 people initially tested positive for coronavirus in an embarrassment to the Hong Kong government. The call for action against the Chinese territory’s de facto flagship carrier came just days after city leader Carrie Lam lambasted the airline and warned that Cathay’s management should be held accountable for the behaviour of its staff. The airline’s largest shareholder is the Swire Group, a British-controlled Hong Kong conglomerate that traces its history back to the colonial era. It has been suffering financially from Hong Kong’s tough pandemic control measures as the city pursues a “zero-Covid” approach along with mainland China. “The central government obviously believes that Cathay Pacific needs to take some responsibility for this,” said John P. Burns, an emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong’s politics and public administration department.<br/>