'Govt Should Subsidise Covid Tests For Health Code'

Pro-establishment parties are stepping up calls to require people to produce proof that they’re free of coronavirus before they’re allowed access to public places like malls, restaurants, or even public transport.

Executive Councillor and Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker Jeffrey Lam urged Chief Executive Carrie Lam during a meeting on Wednesday to subsidise people to take Covid tests as part of a health-code system similar to that rolled out in the mainland.

An app would certify that users have recently tested negative for the coronavirus, and allow them access to public areas.

This idea was initially floated as a way to allow people to travel freely to other jurisdictions like Macau and the mainland without having to go into quarantine, but Lam says it makes sense to use the health code system within Hong Kong as well.

“In the past few weeks we have learned that there are some [Covid] cases that the government don’t even know where [they] come from, so using the code as a tool to identify will only give better protection to Hong Kong people”, he said.

He said anyone without this health code would not be allowed to enter the designated public areas, saying if they want access, they can go get a health code.

While the government is planning to offer free tests to all residents later this month, aided by mainland laboratories, a health code system would require people to get tested regularly – which could prove expensive.

“We also requested the government to subsidise three times the testings, that would alleviate their burden on the cost”, Lam added.

Other lawmakers from the pro-establishment camp – including those from the DAB, the New People's Party, and the Federation of Trade Unions – also met with the CE to press their demands for more Covid-relief measures.

They want more support for ailing sectors like retail and catering. The DAB also called for monthly subsidies of HK$4,500 for those who’ve lost their jobs during the pandemic – for up to six months.

“We can forecast the unemployment rate [will] keep going higher so we hope that the government can respond [to] this quickly”, lawmaker Vincent Cheng said.

The lawmakers also said after the National People’s Congress Standing Committee made a decision to extend the term of the sixth Legco for another year, lawmakers should get back to work as soon as possible, to facilitate more pandemic relief measures, and work to revive the economy.