Leeway as stringent app rule kicks in

Enforcing the mandatory use of the LeaveHomeSafe app for entry into government buildings and wet markets from today will be "light-handed," Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen assured people.

That came as some mobile phone sellers said they were benefiting from the measure as many people were buying cheap phones costing HK$500 to use just for scanning the LeaveHomeSafe QR code.

But vendors in the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's wet markets fretted that the new measure to combat the coronavirus will affect their businesses.

All visitors to government buildings and offices hospitals, Department of Health clinics, wet markets, courts, schools, libraries, sports grounds and police stations must use the LeaveHomeSafe app instead of jotting down their details on paper.

Anyone aged under 12 or over 65 as well as disabled people who have difficulties in using the app will be exempt, with Np saying: "A light-handed approach will be adopted in the initial period of enforcement."

Nip also said he is aware of the difficulties that could be faced by people who don't have smartphones.

Among them , he said, homeless people can leave contacts of social welfare organizations or social workers.

Nip also reminded citizens that it is illegal to provide false information or use a fake LeaveHomeSafe app.

The chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Chua Hoi-wai, backed Nip's approach and said authorities must indeed take a lenient approach as the use of the LeaveHomeSafe app becomes mandatory at government facilities.

People in charge of checking use of the app, he said, "should understand the difficulties of grassroots citizens.

"They should take a lenient approach so people won't be afraid of using the app or stop visiting clinics and community offices to avoid using the app.

"It's a good thing if grassroots citizens know they can still use a government service even without the app."

Chua also said that some social welfare groups have given second-hand smartphones to people and taught them how to use the app.

Meanwhile, people were buying cheap smartphones.

At Sincere Podium, a mall in Mong Kok geared to selling phones and digital products, stall operator Alex Yeung Hung-kei told The Standard that the number of people buying low- and middle-priced phones has increased by 20-30 percent.

Most of them would like to buy Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo phones, which cost less than HK$1,000, Yeung said.

But "smartphones as cheap as HK$500 to HK$600 are even better choices for them."

Yeung added that some people were also buying a second smartphone just for the app because they are worried about intrusions on their privacy.

Lo, a worker at a seafood stall in Sheung Wan Market, said he is concerned that scanning the code will be troublesome for older customers.

But he believed the measure would help in opening borders and that people would get used to it.

Another worker at the stall said the measure would keep customers away, but a customer said the mandatory measure would make him feel safer going to the market as he would be alerted if someone was infected. The app should be even stricter as people do not have to register using their real name now, he added.

Nip also talked yesterday about what will be needed to get the green light from mainland authorities to reopen borders, which will likely be in February.

Hong Kong must guard against imported cases, demonstrate the ability to curb local outbreaks and ensure a high vaccination rate among residents, he stressed.

As of Saturday, Hong Kong had achieved a vaccination rate of 68.5 percent for first doses. But responses from the elderly remains sluggish.

Nip also said experts from the SAR and the mainland will meet again shortly to review criteria for border reopening.

Meanwhile, all community vaccination centers will from today shorten their opening hours and close on Wednesdays.

The centers will operate from 10am to 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. But Saturday and Sunday opening hours will be from 8am to 8pm.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com