Product shortages and price increases on the cards amidst reduction in cargo flights – Carrie Lam

Rising prices and products going out of stock -- Hong Kong citizens will see the impact of reduced cargo capacity following tightened quarantine requirements on aircrew, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said.   

Her comment came as Cathay Pacific said its crews spent a combined total of 73,000 nights – the equivalent of 200 years -- in quarantine last year as the airline struggles to keep flying through Hong Kong's strict zero-Covid controls.   

In the first meeting of the Legislative Council's new term on Wednesday, Lam said the government won't go easy on rule breakers. Cathay now faces possible legal action over an outbreak of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that began with two aircrew breaking home quarantine rules and has forced a tightening of social distancing measures.   

Authorities are also looking into Cathay's arrangement of carrying crew returning to Hong Kong on cargo-only flights to avoid hotel quarantine, although the airline believes that the arrangement complies with the law, Lam said.   

Facing calls for authorities to tighten their grip and make Cathay accountable, Lam asked if the public genuinely wants to crush the city's aviation industry. A reduction in cargo flights will affect all citizens in Hong Kong, as it involves the import of fresh food, electronic products, and pharmaceuticals.   

She warned that prices would soon go up, and shops may run out of stock.