Ensure no color-code gray areas

Just as they are recovering from the devastating "blue-and-yellow" divide, Hongkongers have been unexpectedly warned to prepare for the arrival of new colors.

Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau revealed at the weekend that he is planning to take a cue from the mainland and Macau to strengthen the city's LeaveHomeSafe app, with a view to differentiating people according to their Covid status.

Recent outbreaks in the mainland and Macau have shown their three-color health codes do not necessarily stop Covid from spreading.

However, adopting them would align Hong Kong's Covid monitoring with theirs to pave the way for the land border to reopen sooner for normal travel.

Lo did not say how, but it is presumed that people testing negative would win a green pass allowing them to hang out.

It is also presumed that others waiting to take a Covid test would be flagged yellow, with their movements greatly restricted.

Those testing positive would get a red code and be banned from going out.

As said, Lo did not say exactly how the measures would be enforced but his disclosure of the plan has already raised serious concerns among some lawmakers.

It is not the first time the idea of a three-color coded health monitor has been brought up for discussion here.

When John Lee Ka-chiu was still chief secretary, he reportedly demanded that then-Innovation and Technology Secretary Alfred Sit Wing-hang strengthen the app to include extra functions- but to no avail.

Under the new administration, color-coded Covid monitoring will undoubtedly go ahead.

This is despite concerns that the introduction of such a system could accelerate Hongkongers emigrating and discourage foreigners of high-potential from returning here, which would further isolate the city from the rest of the world.

But there are also concerns that, unless Hong Kong adopts a color-coded health monitor, the mainland will not agree to reopen the border for normal travel.

That is a matter of choice.

Long queues of Hong Kong residents waiting to enter the mainland via Shenzhen Bay checkpoint at the weekend pointed to a huge demand for border crossings.

With reopening the border with the mainland high on the agenda, the choice is obvious.

Privacy might have been a concern when the previous administration first launched the LeaveHomeSafe app.

But, having used the app day in and day out, people have become used to living in the so-called new normal.

It can be expected that they will also get used to the new color-coded health monitor - unless they are prepared to withdraw from society and live a solitary existence.

As Lo rolls out the color-coded health system, it will be in everyone's interest to ensure it causes minimum disruption to people's lives.

If someone is given a yellow or red code, many people around them are likely to be flagged too. How will the decision be made? Well they be able to use public transport?

When answering the queries, Lo must be clear and specific so that everyone understands it.

The mechanism must be clearly explained.