Relaxed Measures Like Letting Wolves In: Kwok Ka-ki

A pan-democratic lawmaker has slammed the government's decision to ease restrictions on more mainland arrivals after Wednesday, saying it is akin to “inviting a wolf into your home”.

The Civic Party's Kwok Ka-ki made the comments after Food and Health Secretary Sophia Chan announced exemptions will now apply to cross-border teachers and students, and people whose business activities are “beneficial to Hong Kong”.

Chan revealed this while extending a 14-day- quarantine requirement for general travellers from the mainland until June 7.

Kwok said the risk of Covid-19 infections from across the border is still great, and every effort should be made to prevent infected people, including asymptomatic carriers, from entering the SAR.

He also said he suspected political considerations were at play as there have been calls from the business community to exempt their sector from the compulsory quarantine requirement.

The lawmaker said the authorities have not made clear what is meant by activities "beneficial to Hong Kong's economic development".

On Monday, executive councillor and Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker Jeffrey Lam said he would push for more exemptions if the government decides to extend cross-border restrictions.

Education sector lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen also questioned the decision to exempt cross-border students and teachers from the quarantine requirement as the Education Bureau has not yet announced when classes will resume.

But Liberal Party leader Felix Chung said he welcomes government's decision.

Chung, who represents the textiles and garment sector in Legco, said it has been hard for business people to manage their firms or factories in the Pearl River Delta.

With minimal new cases on both sides of the border, he said it would be safe to relax the restrictions on mainland arrivals, but added that Chan has not been clear enough on the exemptions.

"She hasn't had any clarification on what sort of professional, or what sort of person qualifies to have this sort of exemption," he said.

"I think at least if the company in Hong Kong can prove they have facilities in China and they're allowed to at least have one person or one quota for each company to let them go back and work and take care of the business in China."