Coronavirus: Hong Kong on track to further relax Covid curbs next week and may ease more restrictions ahead of 25th anniversary of handover
- City leader says she could allow for ‘a more relaxed environment’ to celebrate the anniversary, and urges public not to ‘overreact’ on the rise and fall in daily numbers
- She says incoming chief executive John Lee will need to revisit conditions for reopening the border with mainland China
Hong Kong will relax more social-distancing curbs on May 19 despite the fluctuating daily number of Covid-19 cases, the city’s leader has revealed, while hinting the government may further ease restrictions ahead of celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the city’s handover on July 1.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday also said incoming leader John Lee Ka-chiu would need to revisit the prerequisites for resuming quarantine-free travel with mainland China, including whether the city should continue to aim for zero infections.
Pointing to the smooth results of last week’s round of social-distancing easing, Lam confirmed the city would take further steps on Thursday next week.
“We saw a positive response from the earlier relaxations on May 5,” she said. “We are happy to see life is returning to normal.”
Under the next round, bars, party rooms, karaoke lounges, mahjong parlours, nightclubs and cruise bookings will reopen. Bars, closed since January, will be allowed to operate until 2am with up to four people per table, while restaurants can extend service hours from 10pm to midnight.