Hong Kong Sevens: South African tourists given top seats to watch finals following earlier exclusion over coronavirus travel curbs
- Special arrangement made at Hong Kong Stadium for four visitors after they completed three days of medical surveillance under city’s Covid rules
- ‘At this stage, we’re only having fun,’ one of the travellers says after he was spotted watching finals with friends
A group of South African tourists was invited to watch Sunday’s game for the Hong Kong Sevens from the organisers’ box after they were earlier prohibited from entering the stadium due to the city’s Covid-19 entry curbs.
The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) extended the offer to the four visitors after the group had completed the three-day medical surveillance period required for inbound arrivals under the city’s “0+3” travel scheme.
“At this stage, we’re only having fun. They [the Hong Kong Rugby Union] are treating us very nicely there, full catering, free beer. It’s lovely, we’re just enjoying the last day,” Reiner Du Plessis, 38, said after he was spotted watching the games with his friends.
Du Plessis and his friends found out on Friday that they could not watch the Sevens tournament in person despite flying all the way from South Africa as they had to undergo three days of medical surveillance during which travellers are barred from going to certain premises such as restaurants and bars.
Robbie McRobbie, chief executive of the union, earlier said the group would be hosted in the organiser’s box, when they had completed the medical surveillance period and received a blue health code issued via the “Leave Home Safe” risk-exposure app.
Du Plessis said, following his arrival on Thursday, the past three days with the amber health code had been “difficult”, but he was happy to be provided “proper food” at the event.
Sight of 20,000 fans enjoying Hong Kong Sevens brings tear to official’s eye
The rugby fan earlier told local media that he had only bought takeaway meals from fast food chains and eaten in open areas over the past two days, saying the city’s travel policy was inconvenient for tourists and he would only consider returning when Hong Kong had lifted all of its Covid-19 entry restrictions.
But Du Plessis on Sunday said the saga was his own fault and he had not intended to cause “any havoc”.
“We have to respect the government’s regulations … at least I’m having fun now,” he said.
Du Plessis and his friends will be leaving the stadium later on Sunday to catch their flight to Dubai.
Rugby union chief McRobbie later on Sunday said he had spent time with the South African fans, describing them as the “nicest blokes” and adding that organisers had treated them to several beers.
“They were so apologetic about the fuss that was made around the whole thing,” he said, commenting that the group planned to return for the next Sevens event in April.
“All’s well, end’s well. They left very happy, with a very positive feeling of Hong Kong.”
Crowds flock to Hong Kong Sevens – day 2, as it happened
According to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, nine people were denied entry to the stadium on Friday because they were issued amber codes via the “Leave Home Safe” app.
Among those barred from the stadium that day, five were allowed to watch the match on Saturday after completing the medical surveillance period, while the rest were cleared for the tournament’s final day on Sunday.
Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world which has yet to fully reopen following three years of Covid-19 pandemic woes.
A group of rugby fans earlier was seen mocking the city’s pandemic curbs on Saturday by wearing turquoise shirts designed to resemble the “Leave Home Safe” app, which people must use to show they are vaccinated to enter most public places, including the stadium. They were wearing red shirts for the red QR code used to bar entry.
Additional reporting by Jeffie Lam and Rachel Yeo
