Officials will be ‘lenient at first’ as Hong Kong’s ‘Leave Home Safe’ app becomes mandatory to access government facilities

Civil service chief says officials enforcing the new rule – effective on Monday – will take into account fears that vulnerable groups could be disadvantaged

But residents also expected to be cooperative, Patrick Nip says; city confirms one new Covid-19 case on Sunday, an arrival from Britain

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Scanning Hong Kong’s ‘Leave Home Safe’ app will be required to access most government facilities from Monday. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 1:34pm, 31 Oct 2021Updated: 10:24am, 1 Nov 2021

Officials will be lenient at first but residents should also be cooperative when Hong Kong’s Covid-19 contact-tracing app becomes mandatory on Monday for anyone entering government buildings and other facilities, the civil service chief has said.

The requirement to use the “Leave Home Safe” app for access to venues ranging from libraries and swimming pools to government offices and wet markets has raised concerns among organisations working with vulnerable groups such as the homeless, who often lack smartphones.

But Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said on Sunday the administration was making every effort to take that reality into account.

“For those who do not have access to smartphones, they will be asked to leave their personal details. They will be asked to show their identity card and have their names, part of their ID number and contact details jotted down to ensure accuracy,” he told a radio show.

Sports facilities are among the venues that will require use of the contact-tracing app. Photo: Dickson Lee

Exemptions for individuals younger than 12 or those aged 65 and above, as well as residents with disabilities who cannot use the app, have already been written into the new mandate.

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