Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s travel curbs may be keeping business travellers and tourists away, finance chief admits
- Paul Chan tells audience at business lobby event that ‘3+4’ arrangement ‘might not be good enough in terms of attracting tourists and international business travellers’
- Hong Kong risks losing more global sporting events to quarantine-free cities if tough Covid rules remain, industry leader and lawmaker say
Hong Kong’s finance chief has admitted the current Covid-19 quarantine arrangement may discourage tourists and business travellers from coming to the city and vowed the government will roll out “bold” measures soon to reverse a “worrying” loss of talent.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po made the pledge on Monday at an event organised by the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, attended by other business lobbies, diplomats and representatives from the money management industry.
Pointing to the current “3+4” arrangement requiring three days of hotel quarantine and four more under home medical surveillance, Chan said the approach “might be acceptable to the locals, but we know it might not be good enough in terms of attracting tourists and international business travellers”.
“We are trying very hard, but we have to do this step by step. I wish we could do faster and more,” he said.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau this weekend revealed the government was “actively considering” ending hotel quarantine, and sources told the Post an announcement could be made before the end of the month, at the earliest.