More countries seeking bubble pacts with SAR

Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore have expressed interest in negotiating a "travel bubble" deal with Hong Kong as the city's coronavirus situation eases, says Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah.

Yau said the government has been discussing travel bubbles with different countries and regions since June and letters have been sent to 11 countries, including South Korea, Germany, France and Switzerland.

Hong Kong is already in talks with Japan and Thailand while the European Union has endorsed Germany as its representative to negotiate on behalf of its members, Yau said in a press briefing yesterday.

The bubble will facilitate easier travel between two regions, so long as their citizens are tested for the virus before departure and upon arrival.

"We hope to use this kind of predeparture and upon-arrival test to minimize the risk of travelers," Yau said.

There may also be limitations on the destinations they can visit as some countries are big and they may not want visitors to travel from one city to another, Yau said. Business travelers may be given priority in the scheme and there may be quotas at the initial stage of a travel bubble. A health code may be used to run the scheme.

Yau said the government is still discussing with the countries on arrangements like the upon-arrival port health check and other additional measures and an agreement needs to be reached before announcing the start of any travel bubble.

It also depends on whether the pandemic is under control in Hong Kong and those countries.

"The timetable would be a matter of bilateral agreement between Hong Kong and partnering countries. It all depends on how ready and how comfortable both parties are with the situation," Yau said.

"The question of how ready is also a matter of whether we can agree on the protocol. I mentioned the essential features in that protocol, which include a preboarding test that must be mutually recognized by the respective health authorities."

Yau said the citywide testing would help with firming up travel bubbles.

"The enhanced checking and active participation of the community in the citywide testing will give added comfort to our partners that Hong Kong is a safer place for such exchange," he said.

"But I shouldn't give members of the community a false illusion that the travel bubbles could be done within days. The situation remains fluid and could change depending on circumstances."

Yau said it is not necessary to have a health code for a travel deal to be done, but the code would "make life easier" as it will be more convenient for other countries and regions to get information on Hong Kong travelers.

Some countries had travel bubble partnerships with neighbors, but there were mixed results due to the resurgence of infections.

In May, New Zealand and Australia agreed on a travel bubble from this month but the plan was put on hold due to the outbreak in Victoria.

European countries, including the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, Hungary and Slovenia, have deals since May. Italy and Germany later also opened to visitors within the European Union.

Britain welcomed travelers from nearby countries but it lasted for only a few weeks.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com