Coronavirus: Beijing vows support for Hong Kong’s ‘scientific-based Covid adjustments’ to further open up to country and world
- National Health Commission Vice-Minister Cao Xuetao gives assurance at flagship healthcare summit in city, warns outbreaks still occurring across country
- City leader John Lee says authorities identifying more room to ease measures and ‘bring a world of business back’
Beijing has pledged support for Hong Kong’s “scientific-based coronavirus adjustments” aimed at further opening up the city to mainland China and the world, despite frequent outbreaks across the country.
National Health Commission Vice-Minister Cao Xuetao gave the assurance at a healthcare summit in Hong Kong on Thursday, after the city’s leader said authorities were identifying ways to ease additional pandemic restrictions and working on plans “to bring a world of business back”.
“Local outbreaks in various mainland provinces and cities are widespread, frequent and involve a large number of cases. We still cannot let down our guard in epidemic control,” Cao, also a distinguished Chinese immunologist, told the audience in a video speech.
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“Based on scientific principles, Hong Kong adjusted its epidemic measures according to time and local circumstances, as part of coordination efforts to reconnect to the world and the mainland. The State Council has been and will continue to provide necessary, fundamental support for Hong Kong, according to its needs.”
In recent months, Hong Kong has been moving towards normality, but the mainland has stuck with its “dynamic-zero” Covid-19 approach that seeks to eradicate clusters wherever they arise.
On Thursday, the mainland reported 7,820 local infections, a sharp rise over the roughly 1,000 daily cases logged for much of last month, while Hong Kong confirmed 5,697 infections, 495 of which were imported, and nine deaths related to the virus.
In his address, Cao touted the mainland’s efforts in “guarding the bottom line” of preventing large outbreaks despite the rising infections putting pressure on the healthcare system.
The vice-minister also hailed Hong Kong’s “precise” approach in keeping the pandemic under control, which had protected lives and minimised the impact on the economy.
Beijing would also continue to support the cross-border exchange of medical professionals and explore how the city could better contribute to the national blueprint for healthcare, he said.
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Cao and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu were speaking at the two-day Asia Summit on Global Health, co-organised by the city government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, featuring about 80 speakers.
Lee told the audience his government would continue to pursue further easing of social-distancing and travel curbs in an “orderly and progressive manner” after making “substantive progress” in doing so.
“We’re working on specific and dedicated plans to ensure major events and economic activities can be held smoothly to open up Hong Kong to bring a world of business back as quickly and as safely as we can,” he said in his opening remarks.
The chief executive cited last week’s high-level bankers’ summit and FinTech Week, as well as the global health summit and the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, which had returned “in a blaze of blessed glory”.
Covid-19 had “wreaked havoc” on humanity and “shaken” economies, businesses and communities, Lee said, stressing that uncertainties created by the pandemic continued to exist worldwide, while diseases such as monkeypox and melioidosis posed new threats.
“The development of public health, thus, indeed warrants a new course in healthcare for humanity,” he said, stressing “the importance of collaboration at every level”.
“More than just a slogan, the theme of today’s summit – collaboration – should serve as a pivotal strategy, the road to take if we are to move with speed and certainty into recovery, and make our way towards a flourishing future.”
At the same event, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said the city would work hard to facilitate collaboration with other cities in the Greater Bay Area, the central government’s scheme to tie Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in Guangdong province into an economic and business hub.
“Hong Kong has high quality healthcare services, a highly efficient healthcare system, as well as excellent life and healthcare research,” Lo said. “The government will continue to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages and promote healthcare, innovation and cooperation in the Greater Bay Area.”
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The minister noted that following the signing of the closer economic partnership arrangement between the mainland and Hong Kong in 2003, Beijing had provided a platform for the city’s healthcare professionals to establish a footprint over the border.
At present, 12 types of healthcare professionals in Hong Kong, such as Western and Chinese medical practitioners, dentists, pharmacists and nurses, are allowed to register for short-term practice on the mainland without taking qualification exams, he cited.
As part of that drive towards integration, the city leader announced in his maiden policy address last month that mainland pharmaceutical products could be registered and sold in Hong Kong after meeting requirements on safety, efficacy and quality.
“We will jointly build a healthy Hong Kong in line with our national health China initiative, with a view to making a greater contribution to the integration of the Greater Bay Area, as well as the overall healthcare development of our country,” he said.
Thursday’s event was held alongside the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, which ends on Saturday.
