'Social Distancing Rules To Ease, But Not To End'

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the government will announce later on Tuesday plans to further relax social distancing rules as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ease in Hong Kong, but added that not all curbs will be lifted.

Speaking to reporters ahead of her weekly Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, Lam said that the city has to keep up its vigilance.

"The epidemic situation is rather stable, but that doesn't mean we need not be vigilant; you have seen other cities that have gone for some re-opening, relaxation, and then they see a re-emergence of Covid-19 cases.

"So the direction at this point in time – taking into account the impact on the economy and the people's acceptance – I would say is relaxation."

Lam's comments come as a ban on public gatherings of more than eight people, which was introduced to stem the spread of Covid-19, is due to expire on Thursday.

Some health experts on Monday had said that some restrictions like the gathering limit are "meaningless" as schools have reopened, as have amusement parks and entertainment venues.

On Monday, Hong Kong recorded three imported Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections so far to 1,112.