'Govt App To Be Made Mandatory At All Restaurants'

Roundtable legislator Michael Tien says he has learnt that authorities plan to make it compulsory for people to use the government's LeaveHomeSafe Covid app when going to any kind of restaurant, as part of efforts to persuade the mainland to scrap quarantine for Hong Kong visitors.

While some restaurants already have the app rule, others allow diners to provide their personal details in paper form and some have no entry requirements at all, depending on a venue's hours of operation, how many people sit at the same table and the vaccination status of staff and customers.

But Tien, a local deputy to the National People's Congress, told RTHK on Tuesday that the mandatory use of the LeaveHomeSafe app could come into effect at all restaurants as soon as the middle of November, adding that mainland officials hope the app can be something they can rely on to trace any Covid-infected Hongkongers who travel across the border.

"The mainland side wants to see LeaveHomeSafe as the key apparatus to trace people from Hong Kong, who eventually test positive [for Covid-19], where they have been in the last 14 days," he said.

Tien said the app could help officials find out whether Hongkongers on the mainland had been to the same place in the SAR as someone found to be infected.

He added that he expects that by the end of the year, there will be a limited quota per day to allow people to travel to the mainland without the need for quarantine.

The Food and Health Bureau said the government reviews anti-Covid measures regularly and it will announce any new arrangements, including use of the LeaveHomeSafe app, in due course.

This week, use of the app became mandatory at government buildings, including wet markets, libraries, and public hospitals.