Global Financial Market Review

A representative of the convention industry on Thursday accused the government of imposing more - rather than fewer - restrictions on it by placing it in its vaccine bubble scheme.

Stuart Bailey, the chairman of Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association, was commenting after the government said that from Thursday gatherings - such as exhibitions and ceremonial events - could be held at 100 percent capacity as long as two-thirds of participants had had at least one Covid jab.

Bailey criticised the requirements as "logistically almost impossible" and "completely unnecessary".

"According to government figures, Hong Kong has now gone for 43 days with zero local infections. During that time a number of exhibitions have taken place with the safety protocols in place," Bailey said.

He said these included precautions social distancing, mask-wearing, temperature checks, sanitisation, regular cleaning, increased air flow inside the venues, and scanning the LeaveHomeSafe app, and proved that there was no further requirement for tightening the restrictions.

He was speaking two days after the conclusion of the Hong Kong Book Fair - which was cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Visitor numbers for the seven-day fair were restricted, and attendees were required to use the ‘LeaveHomeSafe’ app or write down their personal details before entering.