Coronavirus: Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam reveals scheme aimed at mainland Chinese travellers has been put on hold
- In light of a fresh outbreak in Guangdong, the government has postponed the launch of its ‘Come2HK’ scheme
- The plan, which would have allowed mainland travellers to come to the city without quarantining, was meant to have kicked off last month
Hong Kong’s leader has announced the postponement of a scheme that would have allowed for quarantine-free entry for arrivals from mainland China, as officials across the border battle a fresh outbreak of coronavirus cases in neighbouring Guangdong.
Last November, Hong Kong authorities launched the “Return2HK” scheme to allow the city’s residents living on the mainland to return to Hong Kong without undergoing 14 days of quarantine.
In May, Lam revealed that another scheme, dubbed “Come2HK”, would be launched later in the month to enable non-Hong Kong residents – including mainlanders and expatriates living across the border – to come to the city without undergoing compulsory quarantine.
On Wednesday, however, she acknowledged that the plan would have to be postponed, telling lawmakers that while the central government understood that resuming cross-border travel was vital for Hong Kong’s economy, it preferred to play it safe.
“I fully understand why such caution is needed. Originally we were to launch the Come2HK scheme in May … but due to the recent epidemic situation, we need to put this on hold,” she said.