Editorial | Gradual easing of travel restrictions a step in right direction
- Hong Kong’s bubble arrangement with Singapore and making life easier for those living or working on the mainland are to be welcomed in cautious approach
Easing border restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19 has to be done gradually, step by step. The government’s announcement yesterday of the start next month of a travel bubble with Singapore and the dropping of quarantine requirements for citizens living or working on the mainland is in keeping with such an approach.
But with the economy hurting, particularly the tourism sector, far more is obviously needed. Flexibility by authorities in negotiations with counterparts in neighbouring Guangdong province and Macau is therefore sensible and necessary.
Both declared measures send a much-needed psychological message that life for Hong Kong is beginning to return to as it was before the disease hit in January. But neither will have a significant impact on the economy or tourism given the small numbers of people likely to be involved.
The scheme for residents on the mainland will have a daily quota and, with the possibility that those taking part will have to undergo 14 days of quarantine on return, may have few takers. Keeping Covid-19 at bay has to be the government’s priority and we can only look to places with a similar or better record.
Hong Kong’s tough overseas travel restrictions have severely dented business activity, travel and tourism. Tourist numbers were down 92.4 per cent to 3.55 million in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period in 2019.
