‘New balance’ struck? Hong Kong suspends Covid flight ban mechanism in first major policy shift after pledge to review tough pandemic rules

Hong Kong removed a ban from Thursday on airlines found to have carried a set number of passengers infected with Covid-19 in a first major policy shift following the new administration’s pledge to review the city’s tough pandemic restrictions.

Business leaders, politicians and homesick residents alike welcomed the change, while health experts said they believed a “new balance” had been struck to minimise risks with more rigorous testing.

“Great news! Hong Kong CE John Lee’s first step to ease travel restrictions. More relaxation to come!” Executive Council convenor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said in a tweet on Thursday hours after the government announced the move, hinting that more measures could be relaxed.

The government, in a statement earlier on Thursday, said the ban on individual flight routes would be cancelled with immediate effect due to the “social cost and more precise anti-epidemic measures”. Four routes which were prohibited are set to resume.

Incoming travellers would be required to take an additional nucleic acid test on day three of their arrival starting from Friday in view of the adjustment, the statement added.

“The decision is based on careful examination of relevant data, considering it is the peak season for returning overseas students,” the spokesman said. “The measure will reduce the impact on arrivals, especially for young people who are abroad so they can come home successfully to reunite with their families.”

The spokesman highlighted that imported cases accounted for less than 10 per cent of the daily tally recently. More importantly, he said, more than half of imports could be detected through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at the airport, and the rest uncovered in hotel quarantine.