Govt Puts Flight Suspension Mechanism On Hold

The government on Thursday said it has put on hold its policy of banning flights to Hong Kong if an airline brings in Covid-positive passengers or those who breach anti-epidemic regulations.

Bans already imposed under the flight suspension mechanism have been withdrawn, with the administration saying the policy brought "unnecessary trouble" to SAR residents.

Under the mechanism, airlines faced a five-day flight ban if five passengers or five percent of those onboard tested positive for the coronavirus, whichever was higher, or if they failed to comply with Covid rules.

A government spokesperson said in a statement that the decision was made after a careful review of relevant data while taking into account that it is the peak season for students returning to Hong Kong from overseas.

It said dropping the flight bans will help reduce the impact on arrivals, especially allowing young people abroad to reunite with their families during the summer holiday.

The government also said that most imported Covid cases among travellers have been found in tests at the airport or in quarantine hotels, so the rules did little to keep the virus out.

However, the government said it is stepping up coronavirus screening for arrivals from Friday, requiring them to undergo an extra PCR test on the third day of quarantine.