Coronavirus: Hong Kong considering easing quarantine restrictions for the fully vaccinated, commerce chief tells China Conference

Commerce secretary Edward Yau tells conference attendees city actively looking for ‘leeway’ in ways to loosen rules for those with two jabs, pointing to existing ‘vaccine bubble’ as example

Inoculation, which has been moving at a sluggish pace in Hong Kong, ‘one of the keys’ to moving beyond pandemic, he says

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The Post’s China Conference on Tuesday. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 2:32pm, 15 Jun 2021Updated: 3:22pm, 17 Jun 2021

Hong Kong is considering plans to relax some coronavirus quarantine measures for international travel and further loosen rules for the fully vaccinated at local businesses, the city’s commerce chief has said.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Post’s annual China Conference, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah said vaccinations could provide Hongkongers with a path to exemptions from some existing restrictions.

“We are also thinking, perhaps with full vaccination – two doses plus 14 days – [the city would be] better protected with higher community participation, and we can actually let go of some quarantine [measures],” he told the conference.

The relaxation of restrictions for those who were fully vaccinated, Yau said, could apply to international and cross-border travel as well as entering some premises in Hong Kong.

“[We are] trying to see if we can have any leeway,” he said.

Yau pointed to the government’s existing “vaccine bubble” scheme in which certain businesses enjoyed fewer operating restrictions provided their staff and customers had been jabbed.

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