Macau's unmasked - now it's our time

Oops! Our neighbor Macau is again a step ahead of us in Hong Kong.

For most of the time during the Covid pandemic, Macau has been ahead of this SAR on a number of occasions.

For example, while people in Hong Kong are still required to test for Covid before setting out for the mainland, Macau residents have been spared this requirement for some time.

However, no measure stands out as conspicuously as the mask mandate imposed during the pandemic.

Macau's latest statement that it is dropping most of the mask mandate today is undeniably the most important announcement so far.

For one, it is iconic of the enclave's confidence in stepping out for the final phase of the lengthy course towards full normalcy.

What's more, it is ironic of the hesitance demonstrated by its Hong Kong counterpart as the latter tries to impress the world that Hong Kong is back to normal, with the support of a bonanza of free air-tickets together with an expensive global promotion exercise.

As Hong Kong tries to promote itself worldwide, do its officials know that the handout of half a million free air-tickets is not as powerful as making the simple and single stroke of allowing the public to go out without having to wear a mask?

The latter is not only low cost but also effective in projecting the message directly to the global audience.

Both Hong Kong Tourism Commissioner Vivian Sum Fong-kwan and Tourism Board chairman Pang Yiu-kai are probably well aware of the difference but their health counterparts, including health secretary Lo Chung-mau, may not as the health side insists the mask mandate be maintained until the end of the flu season.

A question is: is there ever an agreement on when the flu season ends?

Does the season end today if Macau is right to start scrapping most of the mask mandate from Monday? Or does it end nine days later on March 8 to which the city's mask mandate has been extended? Or an agreed date on which the flu season ends does not actually exist.

People in Hong Kong have been looking forward to the moment they can choose whether or not to wear a mask and should be forgiven for complaining about why the health secretary could not have accomplished that quickly - or at least faster than Macau.

It would be wrong to accuse the Hong Kong government of being cautious but, in light of the rather stable epidemic situation the city has achieved for awhile, the caution seems to have been excessive and the move towards normalcy could have been faster.

Nonetheless, the days of the agonizing wait are numbered.

With each passing day, Hongkongers are one step nearer the tunnel's end and, on March 8, they will be happy to go out with a choice on the mask for the first time in almost 1,000 days - provided the government does not again extend the mandate.

Following Macau's leap, it is unlikely that the Hong Kong government will delay lifting the mask mandate again.