HK In Talks With 11 Countries On Travel Bubbles

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau, said on Tuesday Hong Kong officials were in discussions with 11 countries about setting up travel bubbles.

Among them are Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, France and Germany.

At a press conference, Yau was asked whether there was a timetable for the relaxation of travel restrictions, but he said that's not something the SAR government can decide on its own.

“Of course the timetable would be a matter of bilateral agreement between Hong Kong and the partnering countries. It all depends on how ready and how comfortable both parties are with the situation,” he said.

“The question of how ready is also a matter of whether we can agree on the protocol. I mentioned about the essential features in that protocol, which include a pre-boarding test which must be mutually recognised by the respective health authorities. I mentioned about the double insurance by having an upon-arrival port health checking,” Yau added.

The commerce chief also said amusement parks and exhibition venues here could reopen next Friday “if situations permit”.

He said both Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland have had experience in infection control, such as allowing only visitors who have made advance bookings, measuring people's temperature and disinfecting facilities after use.

He said he doesn’t think anywhere else in the world would wait until there’s “zero risk” before reopening amusement parks and exhibition venues.

Yau also said should Covid-19 cases occur, operators and organisers of these facilities would be able to trace the patients and their contacts.