A most unforgettable birthday

This year saw the most unforgettable birthday ever for Pang Kong-cheung. The 68-year-old Hong Kong resident spent the day in Wuhan, Hubei province.

His simple birthday wish－a bowl of wonton noodles and a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea－was out of reach, even on the big day, Feb 14.

On Jan 18, Pang and his wife arrived in Wuhan to visit relatives. They became stranded on Jan 23, when the city was placed under a lockdown.

Pang loves running marathons, but he has been confined in a residential block for about 40 days, as he and his wife are staying at his sister-in-law's home.

They are not allowed to leave the block unless there is an urgent need.

Pang has no pressing reason to return to Hong Kong, so, other than boredom, life is passable for him.

Food supplies ran short soon after the lockdown, but they have recovered. Face masks and disinfectants remain in short supply, but as the family is not allowed to go out the problem is not too serious.

There was an issue with medication, though. Pang has hypertension, and he only brought enough medicine with him for 10 days, the intended length of his visit.

After running out of medicine, he asked the Hong Kong government for help. His daughter, at home in Hong Kong, gave local officials the medicine Pang had left in the city, and it was delivered to him in Wuhan two days later.

A former member of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, Pang helped the federation to contact the more-than 3,000 Hong Kong residents stranded in Hubei.

In response, late last month, the Hong Kong government announced that it would arrange chartered flights to take the stranded people back to the city, free of charge.

All returnees have to stay in quarantine centers for two weeks.

Pleased with the arrangement, Pang said he is content to be isolated, as he doesn't want to cause problems for Hong Kong.

He said the biggest regret of his trip is that he hasn't tried local snacks, such as hot dry noodles. He is looking forward to trying them on his next visit, when the virus has been defeated.