Coronavirus: EU backs the lifting of Covid-19 travel curbs on Hong Kong, paving way for city residents to enjoy European leisure, business trips
- Brussels recommends that member states open up to vaccinated tourists, business travellers arriving from Hong Kong, Macau
- EU officials issue the advisory ruling without requiring the two cities to reciprocate by dropping strict quarantine requirements for those heading in other direction
The EU Office to Hong Kong and Macau described the move as a “very positive step” towards allowing residents there to travel to Europe for reasons other than essential trips.
However, Brussels’ advisory ruling for member states does not set any conditions of reciprocation, leaving EU travellers continuing to face strict quarantine and testing requirements in those cities.
Thomas Gnocchi, head of the EU office covering Hong Kong and Macau, said Brussels would continue to seek eased travel arrangements for EU travellers.
“We will continue to discuss with the authorities, following significant improvements of the Covid-19 situation in the EU, measures to ease conditions for travellers from Europe, including children,” he said.
“This would support the resumption of people-to-people contacts and business ties. Vaccines continue to be one of the necessary steps to put an end to this pandemic.”
On Friday, Hong Kong confirmed three new Covid-19 cases, all imported, bringing the city’s total infection tally to 11,884, with 210 related deaths.
