LettersSingapore travel bubble: why many Hongkongers have bigger concerns closer to home

The second collapse of the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble is not a big deal as the Lion City is not the most preferred destination for locals, whereas it is unbelievable that cross-border relatives have gone more than a year without seeing each other

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A security guard closes the gate of Shenzhen Bay Port on February 8, 2020. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 7:00am, 26 May 2021Updated: 7:00am, 26 May 2021

The quarantine-free travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore has been postponed again. The Lion City is the new trigger after its coronavirus cases surged sharply. It is the second delay after the scheme was supposed to launch last November. There has been disappointment on either side, as this scheme was supposed be the model of post-pandemic tourism revival, and authorities hoped to extend such measures to more destinations to boost the tourism sector.

However, Singapore is not the most preferred destination for many Hongkongers. What we are most concerned about is when cross-border travel can fully reopen. We have a close relationship with mainland China, and many of us have relatives living there. It is unbelievable that we have not seen each other in more than a year.

Hong Kong officials often say they have discussed this with their mainland counterparts, but nothing comes of it. We have to quarantine at least 14 days nowadays, no matter if we are inoculated or not. This measure should be reconsidered by authorities.

It is known that vaccines can combat Covid-19. Our government should strive for the best arrangement for us. Misunderstandings and mistrust about vaccines and their side effects only act as perverse incentives for those adopting a “wait and see” approach.

Officials have given a lot of advice and clarification since the vaccination programme launched in February, but uptake is still sluggish compared with Singapore and Britain. If not enough people get vaccinated, we will never reach herd immunity.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the biggest incentive for people to get the vaccine was to protect themselves and their family. She told the truth but did not give convincing evidence. She should give more incentives to help address this complicated situation.