Coronavirus: too early to suggest arrival of sixth wave, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says, as she vows to facilitate arrival of state leaders
- Chief executive consults pandemic advisers on further measures, discusses preparations for sixth wave with internal high-level steering committee
- She also says city is eager to welcome state leaders for July 1 celebrations, but declines to comment on ‘closed-loop’ arrangement for local officials
Hong Kong’s outgoing leader has said it is still “too early” to suggest the city is facing a sixth Covid-19 wave, and has pledged that the government will “wholeheartedly devote itself to creating conditions” for state leaders to visit at the end of the month.
In light of the rising trend of infections this month, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor consulted government pandemic advisers on Tuesday evening on other measures to be put in place.
Officials and experts discussed the city’s latest epidemic situation and coming trends during the meeting, and their assessment did not deviate from past evaluations, sources said, adding no concrete new measures were concluded.
Lam said her administration would work to facilitate the arrival of state leaders to Hong Kong, with a delegation expected to attend celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule.
“We are of course eagerly anticipating a visit by a state leader, and I believe that as so many things have happened in the past five years, there must be some important speeches to make on charting the course for the further development of Hong Kong,” Lam said at a press briefing before the weekly meeting of the Executive Council, her de facto cabinet.
“The government must wholeheartedly devote itself to creating conditions for state leaders to come, but I cannot reveal further details.”