Hong Kong's status undermined by Covid curbs, leader says / Photo: May Tse - POOL/AFP
-
Spacecraft bound for Mercury begins 'tricky' arrival
-
Europe struggles to respond as Russia escalates shadow warfare
-
Initial expert report blames tanker for collision off Istanbul
-
Malta PM urges 'caution' after acquittal in journalist's murder
-
'Everyone a winner' with Barcola transfer, says PSG coach Luis Enrique
-
Spanish PM says no 'solid proof' Morocco planned Ceuta migrant rush
-
Ukraine, India discuss Black Sea, food security on FM's 'historic' Kyiv visit
-
Venezuela's Maduro seek immunity from US drug charges
-
Europe bids to be robot superpower like US, China
-
Tazapay Now Live on the Borderless.xyz Network For Seamless Money Movement to Asia Pacific and Latin America
-
US Fed official joins growing group open to rate hike if inflation rises
-
DWF Labs Expands Global Regulatory Footprint with BVI Virtual Asset Service Provider Approval
-
Hugh Jackman in talks to buy stake in Norwich football club
-
Just the beginning of the journey, Broeders-Bol says of 800m adventure
-
Yen surges on new intervention talk, oil prices climb
-
US trade gap in July hits biggest in over a year on AI buildout
-
US feminist icon Gloria Steinem dies aged 92
-
Study shows plug-in hybrids polluting far more than expected
-
France recorded 'hottest summer ever': environment minister
-
Lost tool disrupted Airbus jet deliveries for months
-
'No plans to retire', says 'acting god' Malkovich
-
MEXC Concludes 0808 Stock Season with Over 86,000 Participants and More Than $1M Saved Through 0 Fee Trading
-
Nigerian opposition lobbyist tapped for White House-linked role, firm says
-
US feminist icon Gloria Steinem dies at 92: foundation
-
China emissions fell in Q2 as Iran war pared oil use: analysis
-
All Blacks drop veteran hooker Taylor for third Springboks Test
-
France sells bonds at highest rate since 2008 amid deficit worries
-
British, French leaders hold talks on migrants, EU relations
-
Vast aid challenge after 'Himalayan tsunami' devastates Nepal
-
Oil prices jump as Iran strikes US targets
-
Bosnia captain Dzeko to retire from international football
-
Putin denies plan for new Russia military call up
-
Grief on Chinese internet as wait for Tibet flood news drags on
-
Caruana Galizia: 'one-woman WikiLeaks' who exposed Malta's shady side
-
Heavy rain puts a dampener on Taiwan 'extreme heat' drill
-
Kuwait's Iranians under pressure since start of war
-
Juve's Khephren Thuram out until 2027 with knee injury
-
EU lawmakers demand Brussels force Meta to 'protect' European children
-
Delivering aid to Nepal flood survivors 'very, very difficult': UN
-
Clooney turns AFP photographer in jokey red carpet switch
-
German growth prospects brighten as economy defies Mideast turmoil
-
Retirement Income Planning Florida Launches No-Cost 'Income Gap Analysis' Program for Pre-Retirees
-
Outrage mounts in Malta after acquittal over journalist's murder
-
Iraola hails Barcola mentality after blockbuster Liverpool move
-
Malaysia starts cloud seeding to help clear toxic haze
-
Michelsen shocks Nakashima in US Open clash of rising Americans
-
El Nino could be strongest in decades, UN warns
-
US govt sides with OpenAI in New York Times copyright lawsuit
-
Kenya steps up crocodile hunt as rising lakes fuel conflict
-
Honda Presses Suppliers for Deep Cost Cuts in $9.4 Billion Savings Drive
Hong Kong's status undermined by Covid curbs, leader says
Hong Kong's status as an international hub has been "undermined" by strict coronavirus border controls, outgoing leader Carrie Lam admitted Friday, just a day after saying she would not further lift restrictions before departing.
The once vibrant Asian business hub is mired in its third year of pandemic isolation as it hews to China's zero-Covid strategy, which seeks to control outbreaks with lockdowns, social distancing and border controls.
Hong Kong last month reopened to vaccinated non-residents but international arrivals must still undergo seven days of quarantine.
"The border control measures have really made people very impatient, and of course, have undermined Hong Kong's status as a hub," Lam said in an interview with CNBC.
"If you cannot travel freely to other places and into the mainland, how could you be a hub?"
Lam is due to step down on June 30 after a five-year term that saw huge democracy protests and Covid-19 outbreaks that left more than 9,000 people dead.
On Thursday Lam announced that pandemic restrictions will not be further loosened during her remaining time in office.
But in the Friday interview, Lam agreed that a more flexible quarantine policy would bring people back to Hong Kong.
"Once we could bring down the hotel quarantine period or, as some have suggested, replace it with home quarantine measures, I'm sure we will be seeing a lot of people coming to Hong Kong," she told CNBC.
Addressing lawmakers on Thursday, Lam said Hong Kong was stuck between China's zero-Covid approach and foreign countries' decision to live with the virus.
Beijing remains committed to completely quashing all outbreaks and President Xi Jinping reaffirmed the policy on Thursday, saying it must be "unswervingly upheld", according to state news agency Xinhua.
Lam on Thursday said there was no chance of reopening the border with mainland China in the near future.
Hong Kong's next leader John Lee has said one of his top priorities is to reconnect the city with the mainland, though he gave no specific timetable.
Lee previously acknowledged that travel curbs have caused "inconvenience" for international travellers but made no commitment to reduce the quarantine period.
A.Williams--AT
