Coronavirus: progress on experts meeting ‘very good sign’ for Hong Kong’s eventual reopening with mainland, Carrie Lam says

Chief executive says personal attention of Vice-Premier Han Zheng, requests for information ahead of cross-border dialogue encouraging

But reopening of barbecue and camp sites, other relaxations of coronavirus rules must be weighed carefully, she says as city confirms one imported case

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Momentum is gathering for a cross-border meeting of health experts focused on easing travel between Hong Kong and the mainland. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 2:23pm, 21 Sep 2021Updated: 12:00am, 22 Sep 2021

Gathering momentum for a meeting of Hong Kong and mainland Chinese medical experts represents a “very good sign” for the eventual reopening of quarantine-free travel across the border, the city’s leader has said.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s Tuesday update on the planned face-to-face dialogue came three days after it was endorsed by Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng at a meeting in Shenzhen.

The sit-down, which will include officials and medical experts from both sides of the border, was first suggested by Lam earlier this month in the hope of speeding up the restoration of travel without quarantine between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam meets Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng in Shenzhen last week. Photo: Xinhua

“The mere fact that Vice-Premier Han Zheng has attached his personal attention to the matter, and that we have received requests for more information to prepare for that meeting, are, in my view, very good signs,” Lam said ahead of her weekly Executive Council meeting.

It is hoped the dialogue will ultimately lead to a full resumption of cross-border travel, something for which there are still no clear guidelines or timelines, despite the city going more than a month without any local Covid-19 cases.