'HK Needs To Change Quarantine Rules ASAP'

Executive councillor Jeffrey Lam called on Sunday for the government to relax inbound travel rules as soon as possible, saying it's too late to leave it until the end of the year.

His appeal came two days after the organisers of the Hong Kong Marathon cancelled November's race, and a day after the 2023 World Dragon Boat Racing Championships were moved to Thailand.

The marathon cancellation was revealed just before Oxfam said it had been denied permission again to hold the annual Trailwalker, with officials citing concerns over the number of people involved.

Organisers of the dragon boat event cited the SAR's quarantine and isolation arrangements in announcing their decision to move it to Pattaya.

Lam, who also represents commercial interests in the Legislative Council, said the news had affected the territory's international image.

"I don't want to force [the government's hand] but I must state the voices of those from the business sector," he told Commercial Radio.

"If you can't turn [the number of days in quarantine] to zero right away, can you do zero plus seven [days of home quarantine]? It'd be even better if it's zero plus three."

At the moment, inbound travellers from places other than the mainland and Macau are required to undergo three days of hotel quarantine, and then abide by home medical surveillance rules for four more days.

Lam said the government should also scrap the requirement for inbound travellers to show a negative PCR test result for Covid before boarding a flight to Hong Kong, because it's becoming increasingly difficult to arrange such tests overseas.

He also warned of "a shocking" brain drain in the accounting industry, saying it's high time for the government to think of new ways to attract talent.