Unveiling the Reasons Why People in Hong Kong Are Not Opting for Free Masks
In late December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread across the globe. Since then, disposable face masks have become a crucial tool in the fight against the virus, with many people even creating homemade masks. People are now wearing face masks every day when they are out, and the market for masks has surged as a result. According to Wikipedia, around 95% of the world’s population lived in countries that either recommended or mandated the use of masks in public during the pandemic. This has led to a massive demand for face masks, and shortages have occurred, particularly in poor countries where resources are limited.
Even in wealthy regions like Hong Kong, there was a serious shortage of face masks at the beginning of 2020, which led to criticism of the government’s inaction in meeting the needs of its citizens. However, in May 2020, the government announced that it would distribute free reusable face masks to its residents. The Bureau of Innovation and Technology led the initiative, which was part of a larger epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic funding package worth approximately US$800 million. The mask, known as the “copper core anti-epidemic mask” or CuMask, is made of copper and has two layers of copper cores to protect against bacteria. It meets the ASTM F2100 level of protection and can be used continuously for up to 60 times after cleaning. Every resident with a Hong Kong ID card is eligible to receive this mask.
The “Copper Core Anti-epidemic Mask+™” combines high-tech with a solution to mask shortages, making it an ideal option for underprivileged households, and it’s free of cost. In the first round, the government distributed 30 million masks to all Hong Kong citizens. According to Mingpao news, the online registration system for the masks received more than 830,000 registrations, covering almost 2.29 million people. In mid-September 2020, the second round of masks covered both the first-round recipients and those who weren’t registered earlier. The department clarified that no copper-containing substances were released in this round. However, the number of masks issued in the second round is currently unknown.
Although the overall ratio of people wearing masks is small, it seems that the people of Hong Kong are supportive of them. However, only a few people wear them on the streets, and the ratio is approximately 1 out of 1000. Normally, it’s the elderly and domestic helpers who wear them. This phenomenon raises an intriguing research question: Why did so many people register for the masks but not wear them, and what are the reasons behind it?
After gathering data from multiple sources and conducting qualitative interviews online, we have compiled a list of potential reasons why people in Hong Kong are not wearing the “Copper Core Anti-epidemic Mask+™” despite registering for it.
1. Politics and distrust in the government may be the underlying reason. The social movement in 2019 created a sense of distrust between the public and the government. Some reasons cited for the lack of trust include the government’s delay in taking action, lack of transparency regarding the production process and expenditure, doubts about the copper material’s safety and effectiveness in preventing the virus, concerns about the logistics of delivery, and privacy concerns regarding registration. Interestingly, some people view the mask as a symbol of support for the government, so those who are dissatisfied with the government may choose not to wear it.
2. The mask’s size may be an issue, particularly for women. While the government prepared three different sizes based on age, personal preference was not taken into account, making it difficult for people to find a size that is suitable for them.
3. Breathing difficulties have been reported due to the mask’s six layers of functional materials, two of which contain copper. This can be particularly problematic in the summer months when the temperature is high. Furthermore, the incorrect size of the mask can exacerbate this issue.
4. Finally, people dislike the mask’s design, which has been likened to underwear or a bra. Many people find the design unappealing and opt for more fashionable masks produced by local companies.
There are several major reasons why people in Hong Kong do not prefer to wear free masks. One individual has mentioned that some places do not permit entry if the wearer is using a government-issued mask or a non-surgical alternative. However, there is no concrete evidence or reports to support this claim. It is evident that the reasons behind this preference vary, ranging from ideology to usability issues. Thus, this is not just a single-factor issue, but rather, all other factors are intertwined.
Although the reusable mask idea is good and has gained some popularity, the government could do more to meet the needs of the people who use it. In addition, aside from the government’s side, we can address these issues with a design thinking approach. This means making the most use of materials to produce the most desirable masks for the public. The process can be fast or slow, depending on the actors’ attitude and willingness to take on the role. If the government distributes the same masks for the third or fourth batch, and the problems remain the same, then we hope that they will take into account the factors mentioned above, listen to the people, design for them, and serve them well.
Furthermore, the limitation of this research is that the sample size is small and the source of the sample is not diverse. Therefore, a more academic perspective and a larger sample size could improve upon this point in future studies. Lastly, we would like to thank those who openly and generously shared their opinions on this research question and contributed their thoughts to this discussion.
Edit by SOCIAL INNOVATION INSIGHT
