'Time To Be Bolder Than Zero-plus-seven'

A former secretary for transport and housing has called for a "bolder" step from the current administration towards reducing quarantine for inbound travellers.

Anthony Cheung from the Education University's Department of Asian and Policy Studies told RTHK the idea of "zero-plus-seven" may not be attractive enough for visitors or business travellers. The policy would mean no hotel quarantine but seven days of monitoring, during which visitors, or returning residents, can't access certain premises, including restaurants.

Cheung said Hong Kong needed a roadmap to "normalcy" or risked losing its competitive edge.

"We should take a bolder step," he said. "Even with zero-plus-seven it's still seven with restrictions on where you can go and that's not attractive to visitors. Compare that to Singapore, where all restrictions have been been lifted."

Cheung said that the World Health Organisation's recent pronouncement that the end of the pandemic was in sight was "a bit premature" but that nevertheless Hong Kong needed an "endgame."

"It's not just about relaxation of quarantine," he said. "Ultimately we need a clearer view on how to deal with the future. Is there an endgame or a roadmap? I think that roadmap should be spelled out more comprehensively [by the government]."

He added: "We cannot deal with the virus in the same way as 2020, or last year. If we don’t change, our current competitiveness and advantage will be affected and this will affect the longer-term future of Hong Kong."