Carrie Lam denies intimidating citizens with new Covid rules

The government’s plan to deny unvaccinated individuals from entering certain premises including restaurants and schools amid a fifth Covid wave should not be seen as intimidating Hong Kong citizens, according to the Hong Kong leader.

Speaking before her weekly Executive Council meeting, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the new measure is not a way of punishing those who refuse to get the jab, stressing authorities have no timetable in implementing such measures.

“If Hong Kong’s vaccination rate for the next three months is high enough, I am confident that such measures will never be implemented while battling the possible fifth Covid wave,” said Lam.

"I have noticed that some newspaper headlines said the government is punishing members of the public, but don't be mistaken, it's a public health practice to adjust epidemic-control measures based on vaccine take-ups,” she added.

Lam also said she is delighted to see many organizations and corporations in the city have fallen in line with the government, providing paid leave for vaccinated employees.