Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s slow vaccination rate puts city in ‘unfavourable’ spot; two new cases confirmed

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip says next three months ‘critical period’ for boosting inoculations in hopes of reopening mainland China border

One of Sunday’s cases ended a week-long streak of no untraceable infections, while another testing lockdown was also initiated, this time in Tai Kok Tsui

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Residents leave Island Harbourview Tower 6 in Tai Kok Tsui. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 2:17pm, 23 May 2021Updated: 8:17am, 24 May 2021

Hong Kong’s sluggish Covid-19 vaccination rate puts it in an “unfavourable” position compared with other places, a top official has warned, with a medical adviser adding that mask-wearing rules could be lifted if 70 per cent of residents are inoculated.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, who oversees the city’s inoculation drive, said residents’ willingness to take the jabs would also play a crucial role in resuming the ability to travel to mainland China and abroad, an idea broached a day earlier by city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

The comments came as the city confirmed two new coronavirus cases on Sunday, of which one was imported and the other local, a 39-year-old domestic helper. The latter case ended a week-long streak of no untraceable infections.

“We are trying to get to a high vaccination rate within the next three months, which is the critical period to decide whether we can open the borders and resume travel with the mainland,” Nip said.

While acknowledging the central government had yet to specify what conditions must be met before cross-border travel could begin again, the inoculation rate would definitely be one factor, he added.