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

Chief Executive John Lee today said the Government is sparing no effort in realising its goal of implementing pre-departure quarantine as discussions with Shenzhen authorities are progressing.

Mr Lee made the statement ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning and told reporters that there have been meetings about the plan between high-level officials of the two places.

The crux of the matter hinges on whether Hong Kong can fulfil the requirement laid down by the Shenzhen authorities, which is also a set of rules that apply to the whole country, he pointed out.

“What is important is the idea of reverse quarantine or pre-quarantine is to allow our people from Hong Kong to (enter) the Mainland while conforming to the “7+3” (quarantine requirement), which (has been) implemented in the Mainland.

“The only question is, whether we do it in Hong Kong or do it in Shenzhen. So the quarantine requirement remains sustained, provided (that) the standard (of the quarantine requirement) is accepted by Shenzhen.”

The Chief Executive explained that once people have gone through the pre-departure quarantine process in Hong Kong, they will be deemed as having satisfied the requirement in the same way as those who have completed the “7+3” quarantine arrangement in Shenzhen.

“So the concept is simple and the concept is to conform to a standard which will not increase the risk to the Shenzhen authorities,” he added.