Social News
Written by: Chen Jiayi
2020-10-28 10:02
Last update date: 2020-10-28 10:04
The government will further relax social distancing measures from this Friday (30th), including the relaxation of restaurants from 4 to 6 people, and the restriction on gatherings to maintain the limit of 4 people.
Regarding the different restrictions on the number of people, the Director of the Food and Health Bureau, Chen Zhaoshi, stated on the Hong Kong and Taiwan program "Millenniums" today (28th) that he did not agree with the logical inconsistency and pointed out that the enforcement of the gathering order is reasonable.
She said that the relaxation measures should be gradual and targeted.
It was accused of relaxing a table for 6 people in restaurants, and the restriction on gatherings remained at 4 people. The logic was inconsistent. The Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, said that he did not agree that the logic was inconsistent.
(Photo by Zhang Haowei)
Starting from Friday this week, restaurants will be relaxed from 4 persons per table to 6 persons per table, while the gathering restriction order maintains the limit of 4 persons.
Regarding the different restrictions on the number of people in the measures, some experts believe that the logic is inconsistent. Chen Zhaoshi said today that he does not agree that the logic is inconsistent and that all measures cannot be relaxed at the same time.
She pointed out that she does not want to have too many people gathering, and orderly relaxing measures are needed. "It does not mean that the next step will not be adjusted (limit the number of gatherings)."
There are so few words, so many people go together, all are reasonable from the perspective of law enforcement
When asked whether people have to leave the restaurant separately after eating, and whether there will be difficulties in implementing the measures, she said, "I believe that in daily life, everyone is rational. If there is such a situation, everyone is worried, generally. Speaking, so few words, so many people go together."
She continued, "For example, if there are crowds in a short period of time, or queues, it is not considered a violation of the gathering restriction order. From the perspective of law enforcement, we are reasonable."
She said that the relevant relaxation measures should be gradually and targeted. Regarding whether the gathering order will be relaxed to 6 people, she said that the risk should be reviewed and adjusted.
Chen Zhaoshi later stated on a commercial channel program that the gathering restriction order stipulates that there is a common purpose of gathering. 6 people will stay briefly after eating and leaving the restaurant. Normally, it will not be a problem to separate and leave, but the 6 people will stay on the street for a long time. Gathering, there is a chance to violate the gathering restriction order.
In addition, the government will set up 4 long-term community testing centers on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, so that citizens can obtain certification before leaving the country and be tested when the epidemic breaks out.
Chen Zhaoshi said that citizens need to pay their own expenses for testing for cross-border purposes, hoping that the price is not too high and acceptable to the public.
The price and the location of the testing center have not yet been determined, and a bid is pending. Hopefully it will be convenient for the public.
She also said that the epidemic situation in Guangdong Province in the Mainland is well controlled. In November, Hong Kong people will be exempted from the 14-day compulsory quarantine from the Mainland to Hong Kong.
Airports also use rapid tests to detect arrivals in Hong Kong. It is expected that results will be available within an hour, but the accuracy will be tested.
COVID-19 Food and Health Bureau
