Political situation
Author: Zheng Baosheng
2021-03-17 18:37
Last update date: 2021-03-17 18:45
The Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor stated in a question in the Legislative Council today (17) that the public’s progress in vaccination is not as good as it is, and is studying the introduction of incentives to encourage vaccination, including relaxation of local social distancing measures. He also disclosed that he had discussed with the central authorities to complete vaccination. Hong Kong citizens relax customs clearance restrictions.
This is undoubtedly great news for Hong Kong people who are eager to go north, and it is also conducive to the recovery of tourism in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
However, not every region has researched and accepted "vaccine passports." Some tourist destinations frequently visited by Hong Kong people still have reservations. There may be a long way to go on "holiday travel" days.
Last year, we have discussed with Guangdong Province about customs clearance and the epidemic has repeatedly hindered
The Hong Kong establishment and the tourism industry have repeatedly called on the Hong Kong government to clear customs, and even criticized the Hong Kong government for its "ineffectiveness" in customs clearance, but in fact "the crime is not the Hong Kong government."
Last year, the Hong Kong government had discussed with Guangdong Province many times. However, due to the repeated epidemic in Hong Kong, Guangdong Province was worried that it would affect the local area, so it has not yet agreed.
In November last year, the Hong Kong government once announced the implementation of a "tourism bubble" with Singapore on November 22, but soon there was a new wave of epidemics in Hong Kong, which delayed the agreement, and it has not yet been implemented.
▼ Kexing vaccine reservation status (as of March 17 00:25)▼
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The Mainland provides customs clearance convenience for designated persons vaccinated with domestically-made vaccines
However, as countries start to vaccinate this year and the mainland promotes a "vaccine passport", the situation of customs clearance is getting better.
The Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong issued a notice on March 12 to provide visa facilitation for designated entry persons who have been vaccinated with the domestically produced new crown vaccine, including foreigners and family members engaged in resumption of work and production, family reunions, family visits, or visits to critically ill relatives. And APEC business travel card holders can submit an entry application together with the vaccination materials, which is the Chinese version of the "vaccine passport".
The domestic vaccine that can be vaccinated temporarily in Hong Kong is Kexing Vaccine. In other words, designated persons who vaccinate the vaccine can enter the Mainland through the above methods.
▼See the details of the scheduled vaccination and side effects of Kexing and BioNTech in the 3 pictures▼
The European Union, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are all studying "vaccine passports"
In addition to the Mainland, Hong Kong people who have been vaccinated will also have the opportunity to travel abroad first in the future.
The European Union, Japan, South Korea and Singapore have all stated that they are studying a "vaccine passport."
European Union local time today (17th) will review the "vaccine passport", which is a "digital pass" that allows EU member nationals who have completed the vaccination to travel freely within the EU.
But the plan does not cover people outside the EU.
Japan has stated earlier that it does not want to adopt a "vaccine passport." Recently, the situation has changed.
The Minister of Administrative Reform, Taro Kono, stated on March 15 that in response to international travel needs, Japan "has no other way" and will consider launching a "vaccine passport."
▼Fobitai vaccine reservation status (as of March 17 00:25)▼
WHO does not recognize "vaccine passport" Taiwan temporarily not adopting
However, in fact, the World Health Organization earlier stated that vaccination does not mean that it is not infectious. At the same time, it is worried that too many people are vaccinated for travel, which will lead to insufficient supply of vaccines for high-risk individuals. The practice of "vaccine passport" is temporarily not approved.
In Taiwan, where the anti-epidemic results have been remarkable in the past year, Chen Shizhong, commander of the Central Epidemic Command Center and Minister of Health and Welfare, also stated that it is not appropriate to adopt a "vaccine passport" at this stage. Taiwan will only follow up if it is widely adopted in the world in the future. Countries will implement "vaccine passports" in the near future, and I believe Taiwan will not be the first place to adopt them.
Different regions recognize vaccines, and the Hong Kong government has difficulties in negotiations
Another variable of "vaccine passport" is what is meant by "approved vaccine".
As far as the Mainland is concerned, for the time being, it only provides convenience for domestic vaccines, that is, people vaccinated with BioNTech vaccine in Hong Kong have not benefited yet.
The EU also only accepts approved and vaccinated BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines, such as vaccines produced in the Mainland or Russian vaccines, can not use the "vaccine passport."
To fight for customs clearance, Lam still needs to discuss with the other party about the vaccine varieties that are mutually acceptable, especially when the foreign country does not approve the vaccine from the mainland, I believe there will still be a fight.
▼Which new crown vaccine will the four chief executives receive?
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New Crown Vaccine︱ Carrie Lam: Citizens need to induce vaccinations, study customs, and relax social distancing measures
He Boliang said that the government is analyzing the abnormal vaccine accident of Kexing and advocating that the business sector can provide preferential treatment for injections.
New Crown Vaccine｜Relaxed appointments for 30,000 people on the first day to order 110,000 people from Kexing
Carrie Lam: I don’t want the public to "submit" by tightening epidemic prevention measures. I doubt the effectiveness of compulsory vaccination.
Cui Junming suggested that the government consider purchasing Johnson & Johnson vaccines, saying that the data is more complete and only one dose is required
New Crown Vaccine︱ Lam Cheng: There is no causal relationship between the recent deaths and the vaccine, citizens can rest assured of vaccination
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New crown pneumonia new crown vaccine China Kexing BioNTech/Fosun vaccine
