I am writing to call on the Hong Kong government to lift the ban on flights returning from the United Kingdom while adopting a more reasonable approach to prevent the importing of new virus strains . I am a mother of a child who has been stranded in the UK since he commenced his university studies there in September. I wish the government could understand my worries as a mother, given the surge of infections across the UK recently. It is of great concern whether a student there who contracted the virus would receive the necessary medical care and attention. I believe that it is not the intention of the government to disregard the well-being of Hongkongers and put their lives at risk at a time when it is dangerous to be in the UK because of the pandemic. Although other countries have also applied restrictions on travellers from there because of the fast-spreading nature of the new virus strain, many, including Australia and Japan, still allow their residents to return following a period of quarantine, which is reasonable and in line with humanitarian grounds. I understand the government is striving to prevent the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases from accelerating. However, shutting the door to all travellers from the UK, including Hong Kong residents, without a time frame is unreasonable and inhumane. The preventive measures could be replaced by requiring a longer quarantine period and proof of a negative Covid-19 test result, as adopted by other countries for those arriving from high-risk areas. I hope the government will lift the ban and advise parents of a time frame for this, so that we have sufficient time to arrange flight tickets and hotels. S.Y. Wong, Braemar Hill