Hong Kong leader expects mainland China border to reopen in Feb -broadcaster

Greater Bay Area Dynamic Growth Holding

05/11/2021 04:06

HONG KONG, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam
said on Friday she expected the border with mainland China to
largely reopen in February next year as the two governments
stick to their zero COVID-19 policies, public broadcaster RTHK
reported.
    Despite barely recording any local coronavirus cases in
recent months, authorities in the global financial hub have
tightened up quarantine and patient discharge rules to convince
Beijing to allow cross-border travel.
    Hong Kong is following Beijing's lead in retaining strict
travel curbs, in contrast to a global trend of opening up and
living with the coronavirus.
    RTHK said Lam's remarks were made during a forum about
China's Greater Bay Area.
    International business lobby groups have warned Hong Kong
could lose talent and investment, as well as competitive ground
to rival finance hubs such as Singapore, unless it relaxes its
restrictions on travel.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2Q20N1
    Lam has repeatedly said opening the border with mainland
China, Hong Kong's main source of growth, was her priority.
    Hong Kong's government said in a statement late on Thursday
that a video call between health experts and officials from Hong
Kong and the mainland was "constructive, heading towards the
goal of resumption of quarantine-free travel" in a "gradual"
manner.
    Hong Kong requires hotel quarantine of up to 21 days for
arrivals from most countries at the travellers' cost. 
    Those who test positive are immediately admitted to hospital
regardless of their condition. Since last month they have been 
required to spend a further 14 days in a designated facility
after leaving the hospital.

 (Reporting by Twinnie Siu; writing by Marius Zaharia; Editing
by Kenneth Maxwell)
 ((marius.zaharia@thomsonreuters.com; +852 2843 6358;))