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Coronavirus Hong Kong
OpinionLetters

LettersInconsistencies in Hong Kong’s pandemic policies erode faith in government

  • Readers discuss the need for science-based pandemic rules, the logic of the quarantine policy and the dilemma facing some permanent residents

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Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre on July 25. Public confusion and frustration over the government’s pandemic and quarantine policies have led to calls for restrictions to be eased or eliminated altogether. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Letters
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Hong Kong’s travel restrictions, quarantine policies and isolation rules are not only unnecessary and ineffective, as many residents and experts have already stated, but they are not even internally consistent or adhere to a coherent logic.
While the new administration has begun to slowly lift the travel restrictions that have destroyed the global connectivity and reputation of our city, the lack of consistency and coordination across various departments means the intended results of each policy change are never achieved. One such example is the recent provision of allowing recently recovered residents to return provided they have an a certificate issued by a medical practitioner or an official recovery record that confirms their date of infection being at least 14 days before their flight.
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Understanding that PCR tests can still detect viral segments long past the infectious period, the government has amended the preflight requirements for recovered patients who have a valid certificate. They only need a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result within 24 hours of the flight.

However, upon arrival in Hong Kong, this sensible consideration is immediately overlooked. Recovered travellers are still required to undergo a PCR test. If the results come back positive, they are taken from their quarantine hotel and sent to isolation.

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Administrators have not explicitly set this policy in writing. However, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection, mentioned during a recent press conference that travellers who tested positive could stay in their quarantine hotel if their PCR test showed a CT value greater than 30, but those whose test showed a value less than 30 would be sent into isolation.

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