Coronavirus: Hong Kong plans ‘phased approach’ in flying thousands of residents back from India, Pakistan

Some 5,200 city residents are now stranded in India or Pakistan, which has imposed strict travel restrictions and shut down international flights

Initial plan will focus on getting Hongkongers home from Delhi and Islamabad and their surrounding areas

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A doctor in a protective chamber takes a swab from a man to test for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at a government-run hospital in Chennai, India. Some 3,200 Hongkongers are believed stranded in the country. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:35pm, 25 Apr 2020Updated: 11:32pm, 25 Apr 2020

The Hong Kong government has said it plans to fly home thousands of residents stranded in India and Pakistan by the Covid-19 crisis in the coming weeks, as it was also revealed it had received 6,100 requests for assistance in 73 countries and regions, the vast majority of which are from the two South Asian countries.

After days of criticism over its perceived inaction, the government said in a Saturday evening press release it would adopt a “phased approach” to rescuing 3,200 residents stranded in India and another 2,000 in Pakistan, bringing them home on chartered flights.

It noted India had imposed strict restrictions on land and air traffic across the nation, while Pakistan had banned all international flights.

A man sits on a handcart that is serving to block a road during an extended nationwide lockdown India. Photo: Reuters

“Considering the above situation, and [taking into account] the quarantine arrangements for the returnees and the capacity for testing and [at] the quarantine and treatment facilities, the HKSAR government would have to adopt a phased approach in assisting the return of the Hong Kong residents by batches subject to the circumstances,” the Security Bureau statement reads.

The bureau added that the Immigration Department had received lists of assistance requests from chambers of commerce, non-government organisations and legislators.