Further relaxation of Covid rules in Hong Kong comes as Christmas bonus
- Places such as cinemas are among those to benefit along with those who go to bars and banquets in a city that must continue to open with caution
The latest relaxation of Hong Kong’s social-distancing measures is just in time for the festive season. It will give a much-needed boost to many businesses hit hard by the pandemic.
Capacity limits for cinemas, museums, theme parks and performance venues will be lifted from tomorrow. The onerous requirement that those attending bars, banquets and local tours present a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) will also be scrapped.
These are welcome developments as Hong Kong strives to return to normal life. The city is moving in the right direction. It follows last week’s landmark lifting of a ban on visitors going to restaurants, gyms and other venues for three days after their arrival.
Many restrictions remain, however, and Hong Kong will ultimately need to lift them if it is to catch up with other parts of the world and compete for investment, talent and tourists.
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The latest relaxation is based on the number of cases, although high, having stabilised. It makes sense, but risks do remain. There has been a worrying surge in the number of patients admitted to hospital. Accident and emergency wards have been swamped, with waiting times at some facilities up to eight hours. And flu season is upon us.
It is essential that the appalling scenes witnessed early this year are not repeated. Hospitals were overwhelmed and patients left on beds outside in the cold. Measures have been introduced to ease the burden on the health service and to ensure beds are available for those who most need them. But some care homes are still sending patients with mild symptoms to public hospitals.
Lessons must be learned from those dark times. It is critical that the same mistakes are not made again. Meanwhile, efforts to ensure the young and old, who remain vulnerable, are vaccinated need to be stepped up.
Hong Kong bars, entertainment venues set to benefit under eased Covid rules
The government faces the challenge of getting life back to normal while ensuring another public health crisis does not develop. But the higher rates of immunity generally and milder variants of the virus should make this possible.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will report on the city’s progress to President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders during his duty visit to Beijing this week. There are hopes the long-awaited opening of the border with the mainland will be the subject of fruitful discussions. Such a step would bring great social and economic benefits.
Undersecretary for Health Libby Lee Ha-yun said the government was looking deeply into relaxing all measures so the city may return to normal life. That is good news ahead of the busy Christmas period. But care must be taken to ensure there are no setbacks and that Hong Kong’s revival is both safe and speedy.
