One caller argued: “It’s very difficult to tell people and persuade [them] that we are a leading international centre when we are the last people on the planet to remove masks.”

Hong Kong’s extended mask rule: good against flu, but what about children’s growth?

Another brought up the question of tourism: “Imagine you and your family are travelling and looking at various locations in Asia, would you personally choose a country with a mask mandate to take your family to, against one that doesn’t?”

One more caller said: “How can we not lose tourism if we’re still asking all of these people that we’re going to invite to come over in March and have them wear masks?”

Chan made clear the government aimed to end the rule “probably towards the end of this season”, while admitting authorities had received similar views during the budget consultation.

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He also noted that after three years of the pandemic, it was very important not just to attract foreign tourists and business visitors, but to organise more activities for residents to enjoy and spend time together with their families, referring to the “Happy Hong Kong” campaign in his budget plan.

Chan said apart from activities across districts, organisations and companies such as Ocean Park and Disneyland, as well as the West Kowloon Cultural District, would stage various leisure events for families.

Hong Kong remains one of the few cities in the world where wearing a mask outdoors is compulsory, three years into the coronavirus pandemic. Offenders will be fined HK$5,000 (US$637) on the spot.

By comparison, a check of nine other jurisdictions found only neighbouring Macau required that masks be worn in public areas, while companies can decide whether to require employees to keep them on while working.

Mainland China does not have an official policy on the matter, although authorities issue guidelines from time to time. Currently, mainlanders are urged to wear masks in public indoor areas, such as hospitals, malls, supermarkets, airports, railway stations and lifts.

Western countries such as Australia and Britain do not require facial coverings in public places, while Singapore only mandates that masks be worn inside healthcare and residential care facilities.

Hong Kong health experts on Thursday backed the extended mask mandate, which applies to public transport, paid areas in MTR and public spaces, but children’s rights groups said the move would further jeopardise learning in young residents, such as in speech development and reading facial expressions.

Chemists and pharmacies have been preparing to slash prices on masks, according to a Post observation, following remarks by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu two weeks ago on considerations to do away with the facial coverings after the flu season, which usually ends in March or April.

‘Lift Hong Kong Covid mask mandate for outdoors after winter flu surge’

On the property market, Chan on Friday said it had “started to stabilise at the moment” after a drop of nearly 16 per cent last year.

“We do think the property market is stabilising with the improved economic situation and with the interest rate hike [coming] towards the end. It will provide more certainty to people in considering whether to make their buying decision,” he said.

He also added authorities would review the salary and profit tax next year, after deciding not to adjust either in the budget to give residents more “breathing space”.

Asked whether the government would further increase the levy, Chan said he would keep this in mind, but the financial burden on residents must also be considered.

“We’re conscious of the fact that even with this 30 per cent increase in tobacco duty, we’re still below the World Health Organization’s guidelines,” he said, referring to the global body’s recommendation of a 75 per cent levy. “Our policy objective is to reduce the smoking population particularly among our young generation.”

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Cheung