A diamond-studded Rolex watch is the latest addition to a long list of prizes Hongkongers can win if they get vaccinated—courtesy of pro-establishment lawmaker Regina Ip, who is offering up the timepiece from her own personal collection.
Ip, chairperson of the New People’s Party (NPP), showed off the 18-karat bling at a press conference Wednesday, adding that she bought the watch in the 90s to “celebrate” her career promotion.
“When I bought it, it was around US$10,000,” Ip said, holding up the watch in all of its cushion-padded jewelry box glory. “It’s probably risen in price a lot now.”
The antique Rolex is the top prize of NPP’s lucky draw, which will also see a diamond bracelet, rare tea leaves and a laptop, among others, given away to incentivize COVID-19 vaccinations.
Ip herself received the China-made Sinovac two months ago. Last week, she posted a picture of her antibody test results on Twitter, adding: “I am delighted the results show I am well protected against COVID. Sinovac’s vaccine works!”
The lottery, however, is open only to members and “friends” of the pro-Beijing party.
On the party’s Facebook page, one person asked jokingly if Ip would consider parting with her Burberry scarves.
I will stop buying or using Burberry products until Burberry has retracted or apologized for its unfounded allegations against Xinjiang. pic.twitter.com/Mus4FXeVXm
— Regina Ip Lau Suk Yee (@ReginaIplau) March 26, 2021
In March, amid renewed concern about claims of forced labor in Xinjiang’s cotton industry, Ip posted a picture of herself glaring at her luxury shawls from Burberry, one of her favorite brands.
Read more: ‘What genocide?’ Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip disputes widely-reported persecution of Uighurs
She declared in a tweet that she would “stop buying or using Burberry products” until it has “retracted or apologized for its unfounded allegations against Xinjiang.” (Burberry is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, which said last year it would pull out of the province due to reports about inhumane labor practices there.)
