(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said that while Hong Kong’s primary advantage is being a gateway to the Mainland, certain factors must be taken into account when devising anti-COVID-19 strategies.

She made the statement during a media session ahead of this morning’s Executive Council meeting.

Mrs Lam explained that if Hong Kong decided to resume quarantine-free travel with the Mainland, the city’s anti-pandemic practices would have to be more in line with the Mainland’s in order to give Mainland authorities confidence to enable Hong Kong people to travel to the motherland without being subject to a 14-day quarantine plus seven days of health monitoring.

“If Hong Kong was to loosen the boundary controls for people arriving from overseas or adopt what other countries have done - so called live with the COVID-19 virus - then the chances of resuming travel with the Mainland would be reduced.”

The Chief Executive stressed that in Hong Kong’s anti-COVID-19 strategy, controlling the importation of possible cases is a very important part of that plan of action.

“So I can only say to those representing the financial sector that we have to look at it in its context. The context is that Hong Kong’s primary advantage lies in being the gateway to the Mainland.

“If businesses established in Hong Kong could not go into the Mainland, I think it will significantly reduce the attractiveness of Hong Kong as an international business hub and an international financial centre,” she added.