Hong Kong fourth wave: city mulls inbound traveller quota as contingency for worsening coronavirus crisis
- Officials have discussed limiting air arrivals if there is a shortfall of hotels willing to serve as quarantine centres, government pandemic adviser says
- Some 9,000 students expected to fly into Hong Kong from Britain alone this month
A quota on travellers arriving by air into Hong Kong has been floated in case not enough hotels sign up as quarantine facilities, according to a government adviser on the pandemic, in what would be yet another blow for airlines and passengers.
Professor David Hui Shu-cheong said a cap on the number of passengers landing in Hong Kong could be used to further curb travel and protect the city from imported coronavirus infections, but added it was a remote possibility at this stage. Australia notably has enforced a cap to limit residents returning from overseas.
The government has been looking at the option should the city’s fourth Covid-19 wave spiral out of control, according to Hui, who suggested it could be deployed if there were issues with quarantine capacity.
Some 9,000 students in Britain alone were expected to fly to the city in December.
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Fourth wave of coronavirus cases in Hong Kong prompts tougher Covid-19 measures
Confirming government talks on the cap, Hui said officials would only consider introducing one in “extreme conditions”.