Covid fight won't slow down - Lee

Hong Kong will not "lie flat" in the fight against Covid nor reimpose tough restrictions for arrivals, says Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, after infections rose to 2,815.

Lee also assured the Legislative Council that there will be pragmatic talks with mainland authorities in the hope of finding a halfway solution for border reopening.

It is a challenge to resume quarantine-free travel with the mainland as Hong Kong records 2,000 cases a day, Lee said. He said the government is enhancing mutual trust with the mainland to avoid increasing cross-border transmission risks.

"I do not agree with the lie-flat approach as we could not let the caseload rise without a limit," Lee said.

"This is because once the infection count increases, the number of severe cases and deaths may also increase and the high-risk groups - including the elderly, chronically ill patients and immuno-compromised people - will suffer."

An increasing caseload would also lead to a rise in hospitalization, putting a burden on the medical system, he said.

Asked about the timetable for border reopening, Lee said the government has to make sure it would not add risks for the mainland.

"We will adopt a pragmatic approach in communicating and discussing border reopening arrangements with mainland authorities. We have to build mutual trust and take into account the interests of both sides and ensure all possible cases are traceable," he said.

"We will discuss with the mainland whether we could meet each other half way on reopening arrangements."

Lee did not say whether the government will implement the proposal by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong to allow SAR travelers to stay for 10 days in local quarantine facilities at Penny's Bay and Kai Tai Cruise Terminal before crossing. He said the government will not rule out any possibility but it also does not want the public to misunderstand that it already has a plan.

Lee said he is also concerned about risks from other countries, adding the government is studying shortening the quarantine period for inbound travelers.

Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau had proposed minimizing the inconvenience to inbound travelers and detecting Covid patients using the most accurate and effective methods. But Lee did not elaborate on those proposals.

Lee said Hong Kong is high density and has a high proportion of elderly people so policies need to be carefully adjusted to prevent imported cases.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com