Inbound passengers line to undergo rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 under the "test-and-hold" arrangement at Hong Kong International Airport, April 1, 2022. (CALVIN NG/CHINA DAILY)
The trade and convention sectors welcomed the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s decision to allow arrivals who finish their hotel quarantine to attend business-to-business conferences, saying it will help restore normal interactions between Hong Kong and the international community.
Allen Shi Lop-tak, president of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, said the new measures will send a clear message to the international community and strengthen the confidence of multinational companies and businesses in the city
The SAR government said on Tuesday it will relax restrictions on the participation of inbound travelers, who have an amber code under the Vaccine Pass, allowing them to to attend business-to-business conferences in the four days after their three-day hotel quarantine.
However, they will still be barred from many public establishments, including restaurants and bars.
The participation of members of the trade in business-to-business trade exhibits and related activities is considered similar to performing duties at work and is different from other mass group gatherings, the government said.
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“The new measure will facilitate those who wish to attend international conferences in Hong Kong and is a step forward in the restoration of normal international interactions,” said Peter Lam Kin-ngok, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
The industry had urged the government to lift travel restrictions to revive Hong Kong’s tourism industry.
The adjustment was made after balancing the need for maintaining social and economic activities. It will take effect from Thursday. The government also announced a two-week extension of the existing social distancing measures.
Allen Shi Lop-tak, president of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, said the new measures will send a clear message to the international community and strengthen the confidence of multinational companies and businesses in the city.
“The exhibition industry plays an instrumental part in the Hong Kong economy,” Shi said.
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Shi expects authorities to continue to gradually revitalize travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland as well as overseas in the future, including eventually replacing the “3+4” quarantine arrangement with seven days of full home monitoring, and allowing amber code holders to participate in all activities that do not require mask removal.
The association considers the three-day hotel quarantine as a good start and a step in the right direction.
Lam said restrictions should be relaxed further. Allowing amber code holders to attend only the trade show — and not the public exhibitions — during the four-day medical surveillance is still a challenge for the convention and exhibition industry, adding that it has become a global trend for business-to-business and public exhibitions to be held in a mixed format.
Two large-scale public events, the Hong Kong Book Fair and the Food Expo, were held in the past two months and they recorded 850,000 and 430,000 visitors, respectively, Lam said.
“Their success demonstrated that industry and visitors are able to comply with the government’s health measures,” Lam added.
suzihan@chinadailyhk.com