Lee’s summit trip a big step in rebuilding confidence: Chan
The first overseas trip by the city’s chief executive to a major trade summit during the Covid-19 pandemic marked a significant move in enhancing foreign confidence in Hong Kong’s return to normality, according to a former top government adviser.
Bernard Chan, an ex-convenor of the Executive Council, yesterday also voiced hope the government could “take the next step” to further ease Covid-19 restrictions, after authorities recently allowed newly arrived travellers to visit venues such as museums.
Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong-Thailand Business Council, was part of the 20-strong delegation that flew to Bangkok with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this month.
Lee had earlier pledged to ramp up efforts to rally regional support for the city to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free-trade agreement.
“The business trip to Thailand meant a lot, as it was the first [overseas] trip led by the chief executive since the pandemic began 2½ years ago. It sent a message to locals and the outside world that Hong Kong is returning to normality,” Chan told a radio programme.
“There has been a lot of negative news on Hong Kong, but Lee was very popular when he met leaders of many countries, with many people chatting with him.”
Lee’s trip was seen as a litmus test for the willingness of other governments to work with him. He has been under United States sanctions since 2020 for his role in implementing Beijing’s national security law in Hong Kong.
Chan said the city should also continue to foster relations with countries in the Asean bloc amid simmering geopolitical tensions worldwide, especially with the mainland’s sights also set on the region.
He said Hongkongers might not have known much about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 10 years ago, but that was changing.
“I would say there have been big changes in the past 10 years not because Hong Kong people are interested in Asean countries. It’s that our country’s relationship with Asean has been deepening,” Chan said, adding that a high volume of capital flow to the area from the mainland had passed through Hong Kong.
“If our country places importance on Asean, why shouldn’t Hong Kong do that?”
Chan, who is also chairman of the M+ museum, expressed hope the government would continue to ease restrictions on tourists.
“People with amber codes won’t take off their masks during their museum visit, so the infection risk is quite low. This is a good first step,” he said, referring to the colour system under the vaccine pass scheme, which limits users mobility based on inoculation and travel status. He also suggested authorities lift the 85 per cent capacity limit at live venues.
Chan said the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ were world-class facilities, and would attract visitors from all over the globe when pandemic restrictions were lifted.
Under the current “0+3” scheme, inbound travellers are issued an amber health code during a three-day medical surveillance period, prohibiting them from entering bars and restaurants.
With recently eased restrictions, venues that are accessible for tourists include non-dining areas of theme parks, museums, cinemas and event venues, as well as hair salons and places of worship.
Upon completion of the medical surveillance, arrivals are issued a blue code and are not limited in mobility.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Lee has returned to work following two successive negative Covid-19 tests, a week after he tested positive for the virus upon returning from the Thailand trip.
His recovery comes as Hong Kong recorded 8,033 cases, including 503 imported ones, and 20 deaths. The total case tally now stands at 2,094,095 cases with 10, 692 deaths.