An outsider's life in a lockdown city

"I don't know how long it will take, but the Chinese government does not give up easily. And when it sets his mind to do something, it will do it," he said.

For the time being, Bentley still can't go back to Hong Kong, and he also has no immediate plans to do so.

Hong Kong has, so far, confirmed 62 infections with one fatality. Under the HKSAR government's mandatory requirements, Bentley will have to be quarantined at home for 14 days when he returns to the city. The measure is expected to last until May 8.

In the face of all the complications, Bentley felt that it's safer to stay in Yueqing until the virus peak crisis time has passed, rather than return to the panic situation in Hong Kong.

Zheng Wanying contributed to this story.