Hong Kong is reported to be preparing to scrap its tough
Covid-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals from early October, a ;local news
portal reported late last week, citing unidentified sources.
Hong Kong’s leader John Lee said last week he wanted to
keep the city connected with the rest of the world and allow an “orderly
opening-up”. However he did not specify exactly when the quarantine policy
would be changed.
Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world to still
require travellers from abroad to quarantine upon arrival, although the length
of necessary quarantine has eased over time.
While Mr Lee will be aware that Hong Kong residents and
businesses have universally criticized the policy, claiming that the policy was
serving to damage, possibly permanently, Hong Kong’s local competitiveness and
standing as a global financial centre, he will also be aware of China’s
continuing tough zero-Covid policy, and can do little more than indicate to
Beijing that Hong Kong is suffering by being too closely allied to the Chinese
policy.
Currently, arrivals must pay for three days in a hotel
and follow that with four days of self-monitoring. The new rules will abolish
the need for arrivals from overseas to do quarantine at designated hotels.
Residents will be able to go straight home and self monitor for seven days, the
local news report said.
Currently people who are required to self monitor are
allowed to move around the city although there are some limits on the types of
places they can access.
Hong Kong still bans public groups of more than four
people and masks are mandatory.
