As swine flu / A(H1N1) / pig flu fever grips the world, it’s been interesting to see how Hong Kong has responded.

Arguably one of the safest places to be since SARS and avian flu, this is a country that now seems to be well-prepared for any contagious disease to hit it. That or it’s very good at perception management. One hotel has already been quarantined due to a Mexican visitor who had it.

As an ongoing general precautionary measure, at every border crossing there has been a temperature check point that everyone goes through prior to clearing customs. Most HK locals already wear masks when they are sick as they don’t want to spread disease (this took me awhile to understand when we first moved here as from a Western point of view, people tend to wear masks if they don’t want to get sick).

The only real change for HK has been in the work environment as we progress through the various phases towards a pandemic (hopefully it won’t get to that).

Most companies have rolled out various acronyms that are rarely used. We are currently checking Business Continuity Plans (BCPs), activating Crisis Management Teams (CMTs) and then there’s the specifics of this particular disease which has seen the formation of cross-functional Pandemic Flu Committees (PFCs).

I’m involved in the BCP and I’m considering having my business card changed to include my participation in the PFC too. I’ll also add that to my resume as you never know when something like this may happen again.

Everyone knows that HK sold out of masks a week ago and there is another shipment due early this week. My work has a supply for each of us. We have checked our Call Tree (CT) and have reviewed the Disaster Recovery Area (DRA). We know who to contact when we travel anywhere (manager and HR) and that we have to have our temperatures checked and recorded each day as we go into the office. Cleaning has also been increased. The buttons on the elevator are disinfected throughout the day and anyone seen coughing or sneezing is sent to the doctor and then home. We are on alert.

The alcohol swabs are also sold out but most work places have a stockpile. We’re being issued them to keep our phones and keyboards clean. New waterless soap and disinfectant has appeared from nowhere so we can wash our hands whenever and wherever we feel like it. They are sold out at the shops.

Messages are played constantly in the MTR and at ferry piers reminding us to cover our faces when we cough or sneeze and to see a doctor if we exhibit any flu like symptoms.

With all this checking, remembering the acronyms, continual cleaning and monitoring, as well as trying not to sneeze when I go out into the sun to get my lunch, I’m trying to figure out when I should be doing the rest of my work.

* Thanks to Ben Lee for the title to this post.