3,000 guests, staff to begin hotel quarantine in Hong Kong ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit and July 1 celebrations
- Thousands will check into either the Grand Hyatt or Renaissance Harbour View, outgoing leader Carrie Lam checked in on Monday
- Most consuls from EU member countries still deciding whether to join events due to ‘harsh’ restrictions
Nearly 3,000 guests and staff will be placed under hotel quarantine from Wednesday in preparation for a two-day visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover, the Post has learned.
Some officials who decided to “play it safe” have even already started their quarantine. This included outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and a few other ministers such as security chief Chris Tang Ping-keung, housing secretary Frank Chan Fan and education minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, who checked into the Grand Hyatt hotel in Wan Chai on Monday evening.
They have been working under a “closed-loop” arrangement, an unprecedented measure that means officials only travel between government headquarters in Admiralty and the hotel until Wednesday. They are scheduled to take part in celebratory events the next day at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, according to sources.
“Those who go back to the office these days cannot go out for lunch, cannot take public transport and have to avoid large-scale meetings. Issues are discussed via Zoom meeting when necessary,” a government source said.
Some officials who have itineraries on Thursday will stop going to their offices the day before, as they are due to begin their hotel quarantine.
