Travel Bubble Won't Pose Excessive Risks: Expert

A specialist in respiratory medicine said on Thursday that the so-called travel bubble Hong Kong and Singapore are planning to set up should not pose any excessive coronavirus infection risks, being as the pandemic situations in the two places are comparable.

Dr Leung Chi-chiu, from the Medical Association, said the travel bubble – which will do away with the need for air passengers to go into quarantine – could be a good interim measure as border controls are still needed as the Covid-19 crisis drags on.

"Both of us are at medium risk. Our control measures including our border control measures are relatively comparable. Under such premises, the travel bubble by itself may not pose excessive risks to either party at the current stage," Leung said.

However, he expressed concern that visitors from Singapore might come into contact with travellers undergoing quarantine at Hong Kong hotels.

"We need to ensure that those passengers in the travel bubble are effectively separated from other international travellers who may be of higher risk, not only during the flights or in the airport, but also in the hotel where they stay," he said.

"Otherwise, cross-transmission in these hotels and other places where travellers from different places may mix could cause further problems."

Leung urged authorities to closely monitor the coronavirus situations in both Hong Kong and Singapore once the travel bubble starts running.

No date has yet been set for when the travel bubble will come into effect.