'Some Hotels Ready To Take Quarantined People'

Tourism sector lawmaker Yiu Sze-wing said on Thursday that some hotels have come forward to offer rooms to people ordered to undergo 14-day compulsory quarantine under new travel restrictions.

Yiu said earlier that hotels had felt taking in people under quarantine could affect other customers and the image of the hotels. But the sector has changed its attitude now, he said.

With global travel grinding to a virtual halt and hotel occupancy rates plunging, some are looking to the government for help.

The lawmaker told RTHK's Millennium programme that eight hotels, which have standalone buildings, have come forward to offer their services to quarantined people, providing over 1,000 rooms.

He said people choosing to stay in hotels for quarantine still need to pay for their own stay.

Yiu said the government can work with some hotels and issue a list of suggested hotels to arrivals. In return, he said, the authorities should ensure the hotels can have at least a 70 percent occupancy rate.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Department said it has added hundreds more officers to help the increasing number of Hongkongers seeking help while abroad.

Normally, 26 officers work in the unit, but it has since been increased to around 370, and another 50 will be enlisted to help with a second evacuation operation in Hubei province next week.

Immigration Director Erick Tsang will again lead a team to the Hubei capital, Wuhan, next week to oversee the operation.

Tsang had also led a similar operation in Japan involving passengers of the coronavirus-ravaged Diamond Princess cruise ship, and there has been speculation that the increased media spotlight on him is to help pave the way for a future promotion to security secretary.

“I have not even thought about it,” he said.

The director said he heard of such rumours before the operation to Japan, so he had asked Undersecretary for Security Sonny Au to handle media relations.

Tsang said that as unexpected problems could come up during the next evacuation mission from Hubei, he decided he should be there in person.