HK To Ease Curbs For More Mainland Arrivals

Hong Kong has decided to ease restrictions on some more mainland arrivals from midnight, although in general the border curbs imposed in February to help prevent coronavirus outbreaks are set to be extended by another month to June 7.

Health Secretary Sophia Chan said that after Wednesday, cross-border teachers and students, and people whose business activities are “beneficial to Hong Kong” will be allowed to enter Hong Kong without having to undergo 14 days of quarantine.

She said the regulation changes will be gazetted quickly for the relaxations to become law by midnight.

While the exemptions will come into effect at midnight, the application procedure will not be open until the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has hammered out the details after consultations with the business sector.

But Chan said the quarantine requirement for general travellers from the mainland will be extended until June 7.

She said exemptions will be given to those engaged in production or economic activities beneficial to Hong Kong, as well as cross-border students and teachers.

Asked if a broad definition like “economic activities beneficial to Hong Kong” would be misused and could pose a danger to the city as virus outbreaks continue in many parts of the world, Chan said the details are still being worked out.

“You asked if there will be certain criteria to be met or is anybody eligible. Well, the relevant policy bureaus will have to continue discussions with the relevant sectors and they will have to decide which types of personnel would fit the description, what would be the duration of stay, whether they have to practice personal hygiene and so on,” she said.

“So there are a lot of details that have to be thrashed out, and then the chief secretary will make the final decision,” said the health secretary.

Chan said the relevant bureaus – the Education Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau – will be working with the Department of Health to "flesh out" the details.

She said even when the border restrictions were imposed, there were exemptions for some categories of people. This move is only expanding that further, she said.

As for the virus situation on the mainland, Chan said things seem to be under control there. But the SAR authorities will continue to closely monitor the goings on there, she added.

“I understand the mainland quarantine policy is very strict,” said the health secretary.

This comes as Hong Kong reported no new coronavirus cases for the third day in a row. The total number of Covid-19 cases recorded in the city stands at 1,037.