Coronavirus: ‘reverse quarantine’ would give minimal boost, but is not the ‘magic’ Hong Kong’s economy needs, observers say

Hong Kong authorities’ proposed “reverse quarantine” scheme would only facilitate people going to mainland China, but not have much impact on the city’s faltering economy, observers have said.

To them, the effectiveness of the arrangement is limited and only a quarantine-free travel arrangement could work the “magic” of giving Hong Kong’s economy a much-needed boost.

Their views come as it was confirmed that Shenzhen’s daily quarantine quota for Hong Kong arrivals has been cut by half to 1,000, said a spokeswoman of the Emergency Management Bureau of the Shenzhen Municipality. The Post had reported earlier on Monday that a worsening Covid-19 outbreak had resulted in a resource squeeze, leading to the reduction in spaces.

“I really want to go back [to the mainland], but if [the quota] is reduced to 1,000 people, it is really hard to secure a spot to go back,” said Chan, a 50-year-old bread shop worker who declined to reveal her full name. “I also need to work and can’t apply for too many days of leave. My boss would not approve that.”

Chan, like many low-income residents in the city, said she has not been back to the mainland to visit her elderly parents since 2018. The mainland’s policy to reduce the quota of travellers has further discouraged her from going back.

A Guangdong government source explained to the Post last week that the temporary reduction in quarantine spaces for Hong Kong travellers heading to the mainland was a precautionary measure, as Shenzhen needed to mobilise more resources to contain Covid-19 cases in the city.