Hong Kong Dashes Business Leaders’ Hopes for Looser Covid Rules

Policy makers held meeting with industry groups on Friday
Companies push for clearer road map as other cities reopen

Policy makers reiterated a target of vaccinating 50% of the population before any major loosening of Hong Kong’s Covid quarantine measures. — Policy makers reiterated a target of vaccinating 50% of the population before any major loosening of Hong Kong’s Covid quarantine measures.
Photographer: Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg

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By Cathy Chan and Bruce Einhorn

March 23, 2021 at 8:40 AM UTC

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Hong Kong’s government has dashed business leaders’ hopes for a near-term easing of the city’s Covid quarantine measures, signaling in a private meeting that any relaxation would require a dramatically higher vaccination rate and prolonged drop in local cases.

Policy makers led by Chief Secretary of Administration Matthew Cheung reiterated a target of vaccinating 50% of the population before any major loosening, according to a person who attended the virtual meeting with representatives of the business community on Friday. As of Monday, about 5% of the financial hub’s residents had received their first vaccine shots.