【明報專訊】Hong Kong is on the verge of a COVID-19 crisis in the community as the fourth wave of outbreaks is bearing down on the city ferociously. After 12 confirmed cases of infection were reported from five units on the fifth floor of Block 8 of Kwai Shing West Estate on the day before yesterday (December 6), another three residents on the fifth floor and one living above the tenth floor were also confirmed to have been infected yesterday (December 7). The authorities have been slow in their response. On the day before yesterday, they failed to take timely measures like compulsory virus testing, quarantine or the evacuation of all residents of the building. They merely distributed specimen bottles to the residents and set up a specimen collection station there. Only late last night did they announce that they would send all other households on the fifth floor to the quarantine centre. The incident shows that the related departments of the SAR government do not have any contingency plans for community outbreaks. They also lack the vigour and courage to take resolute actions. What is worse, the pretexts they use are different every day. There is no consistency at all.