Editorial | Hong Kong exit strategy needs to balance virus risks and reopening of border
- Hong Kong’s relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions and lifting of flight bans have been welcomed, but questions remain on mainland links and measures to defeat the pandemic
Moves to relax in stages the city’s stringent Covid-19 restrictions must be the most exciting changes in recent months. From suspending the plan for the much-touted compulsory citywide screening to easing quarantine and other controls on social distancing and travel, the review by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has, finally, given people something positive to look forward to.
However, there appear to be no further steps to help bring the fifth wave of the coronavirus outbreak to an end. Whether we can truly emerge from the crisis hinges on our ability to prevent a resurgence over the next few weeks.
The lifting of flight bans and shortening of the quarantine period for travellers are long overdue. Starting from April 1, returning Hong Kong residents are no longer subject to full isolation of 14 days when they are fully vaccinated and test negative for seven days in designated hotels.
As Lam rightly acknowledged, the moves make sense when arrangements for local patients and their close contacts are less stringent, and many overseas countries have eased travel restrictions. Whether they can reverse the outflow of talent because of the tight Covid regime remains to be seen, but they are certainly good news for business travellers, holidaymakers and many longing for family reunions.
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Covid-19: Hong Kong to open schools, lift flight ban, cut quarantine time and suspend mass testing
But to the disappointment of many businesses and individuals, most of the rules will remain for another month. The pace of relaxation, to be implemented over three months, is also not as rapid as many would have liked.
