Carrie Lam resists ban on mainlanders, tells HK residents to avoid trips across border

Hong Kong residents should avoid visits to the mainland, the Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said today. She also called on those in the mainland to return quickly. 

She made the remarks several hours after the World Health Organisation declared a global threat from the Wuhan virus, at its third emergency meeting in Geneva. The coronavirus is now spreading faster in China and infecting close contacts of confirmed cases overseas. So far 213 people have died in China alone.

Lam also said civil servants will be allowed to work from home for another week.

Hong Kong has so far strenghtened border controls, shuttign down six border control points, and is also prohibiting Hubei residents from entering the city.

RTHK reports that Lam said 37,000 Hong Kong residents still traveled to the mainland on Thursday, and urged people to avoid any trips there that are not necessary.
Lam said a complete closure of the border would not be in line with advice from the World Health Organisation, which has not recommended any restrictions on travel and trade with China.
She added that a ban specifically on mainland visitors, as advocated by many political groups, also goes against WHO advice.
“Let me quote what is in the World Health Organisation statement.. it makes it very clear that countries and governments are cautioned against actions that promote stigma or discrimination,” she said.