Rugby crowds show the winning way

The success of the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens is proof that the public is ready to exit the pandemic and live vibrant lives just like in the good old days.

That is, if the government is also prepared to bring its Covid policy up to date to keep abreast of the pace.

So far, the public has been ahead of the policy curve as far as readiness is concerned.

Having been vastly vaccinated against Covid and exposed to the virus during various waves, people - at least the rugby spectators - are making their views known through their actions.

There was a sense of irony when cheering and dancing rugby fans snubbed security guards holding high signs asking them to wear masks.

Had the rules on the use of masks been strictly enforced, would thousands in the reveling crowds have been ticketed for not wearing them?

During the event, the government clearly exercised discretion to strike a balance between the Covid rules and the matches.

Yesterday, the government announced it is easing certain restrictions to allow members of inbound travel groups to visit places previously off-limits to anyone whose health codes are amber.

Instead, tourists on registered groups will be permitted to visit theme parks, museums and monasteries. They can also go to some designated restaurants.

In a way, the changes may be viewed as the government's response to complaints that some newly arrived tourists were barred from watching the rugby at the Hong Kong Stadium because their health code was amber.

Although those incidents were believed to be isolated, if not tacked in time they could have turned a good thing into bad publicity.

The relaxation as announced looks like a further transition from the 0+3 rule - zero quarantine in hotel plus three days of health observation monitored by an amber health code - in the direction of a 0+0 protocol.

But it remains so near, yet so far.

Could the government be using it to pave the way to a full transition from 0+3 to 0+0?

While we all hope so, we need to keep our fingers crossed too as what may happen in Hong Kong is also subject to the mainland's Covid policy.

The successful Hong Kong Sevens came amid an ongoing debate over which direction to pursue: insist on the stringent zero-Covid policy as declared by a mainland disease control official recently, or start preparing for an exit.

Perhaps the rugby event here can be taken as new evidence showing that, at least in the SAR, conditions are now mature for us to move into the final phase of transition towards normal life like those cheering in the Hong Kong Stadium.

Having lived behind masks for three years, it can be surreal - as exclaimed by some rugby spectators - to be surrounded by mask-free crowds again.

Surreal as it may be, it is the vibrant way of life that Hong Kong should lead.