Coronavirus: ‘reverse quarantine’ not much relief for Hong Kong travellers crossing border to mainland China, say businesses and NGOs
- The minimum seven-day quarantine in the city remains a big deterrent, says NGO deputy director
- City leader John Lee says he has secured backing from mainland authorities for the proposed scheme, to be implemented as soon as possible
The new “reverse quarantine” arrangement planned by Hong Kong authorities may not provide much-needed relief to travellers heading to mainland China, businesses and NGOs have said, calling instead for sufficient quota slots and the isolation period to be shortened.
Under the proposal, a local makeshift Covid-19 treatment facility at the Lok Ma Chau Loop, an area near the border, could be used to quarantine travellers. A government source said a few thousand places at the centre could be set aside initially for this purpose.
Lee added the arrangement would be implemented as soon as possible but did not give a date.
The source said undergoing quarantine on the Hong Kong side would not be free, but would definitely be affordable for the public.
Currently, travellers who cross the border must quarantine in a mainland hotel for seven days, followed by three days of home surveillance. To cross the land border into Shenzhen, they need to take part in a lottery for one of 2,000 daily quota slots.