Hong Kong to give up on travel bubble plans with Singapore
Lawmakers in Hong Kong argue that the city must focus on keeping local Covid-19 cases under control to facilitate travel to mainland China rather than continue looking to establish a travel bubble with Singapore.
Hong Kong.- During a legislative council meeting, lawmakers have said that Hong Kong’s focus should be on keeping Covid-19 cases under control to facilitate travel to mainland China rather than on a potential travel bubble with Singapore. The decision comes after Singapore relaxed some of its Covid-19 countermeasures.
According to RTHK, Michael Tien, roundtable lawmaker, said: “The mainland will not tolerate any loopholes at our airport. If Singapore really changes its anti-pandemic target, the government can stop talking to the country about setting up a travel bubble.”
Alice Mak, member of the Federation of Trade Unions, said: “For places that don’t aim to achieve zero infection but hope to live with the virus, we should not have a travel bubble with them.”
A travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore has been planned for May 26 but it was delayed due to a rise in Covid-19 cases in Singapore.
Hong Kong-Macau travel bubble also delayed
Macau health official Tai Wa Hou has said more time was needed to allow Macau to observe the latest developments in Hong Kong. Hong Kong hadn’t recorded a community case since June 7, which means the city had reached the 28 days without a local Covid-19 case that Macau set as a condition for a travel bubble.
The two cities were in advanced conversations over easing restrictions. Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd said it expected the possible travel bubble could allow 3,000 fully vaccinated visitors per day during the initial phase of reopening.
However, Tai Wa Hou has said that any relaxation of restrictions for people travelling from Hong Kong will require “in-depth communication and assessment” with the relevant mainland authorities.
Mainland China will continue to be the only country to have a largely quarantine-free travel bubble with Macau although the former city is looking to establish a travel bubble with other nearby Asian regions.
