The crew must be isolated? Lam Cheng: Special exemption from strict measures to protect daily life needs

After Cathay Pacific arrived in Hong Kong from Frankfurt, Germany within a week, three freighter pilots were diagnosed at home during the quarantine exemption period. "Hong Kong 01" learned that Cathay Pacific has further tightened the guidelines for the exemption of crew members from returning to Hong Kong.

The Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor attended the executive meeting this morning (16th) and stated that the relevant arrangements will be launched a few days after the Transport and Housing Bureau and Cathay Pacific have negotiated.

According to reports, the government intends to further tighten measures, requiring crew members to undergo a 14-day home quarantine after returning to Hong Kong.

Lam Cheng responded that he has not read the relevant reports, but the government will maintain monitoring and adopt more stringent measures when necessary. He also pointed out that for the daily life of Hong Kong people, special arrangements are made for personnel related to sea, land and air freight. Life has an impact.

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[10:10] The Wireless News reporter asked about the quarantine exemption arrangements for senior JPMorgan Chase executives who came to Hong Kong earlier, and asked whether the government has restricted their itineraries.

Lam Cheng responded that when the Executive Council passed the subsidiary legislation on epidemic prevention in Chapter 599 of the law, there was a Chapter 599 (C) for people arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland and a Chapter 599 (E) for people arriving in Hong Kong from foreign countries, setting out the situation. The following will be exempted.

Lam Cheng said that the government has cancelled most of the group exemptions earlier, and there are only seldom used personal exemptions, including some epidemic prevention needs, government actions, and major economic interests. For example, if she herself returns to Hong Kong on business from other places, Also exempted.

She said that the relevant individual exemption is generally proposed by the Policy Bureau and approved by the Chief Secretary for Administration. This exemption is based on economic reasons and involves "multiple days of work", and the person's entire trip is restricted and the risk is controllable.

[10:05] The British "Economist" reporter Sue-Lin Wong's work visa was refused renewal, and the Immigration Department did not provide reasons.

Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor pointed out that the issuance of visas is within the autonomy of the SAR government. As the chief executive, the United States also refuses to grant visas. This is also the autonomy of the United States.

Lam Cheng emphasized that the Immigration Department decides whether to grant a visa after considering individual cases. The Hong Kong government does not comment on individual incidents.

Lam Cheng also said that Hong Kong, as an international city, is proud of Hong Kong as a central hub for overseas media. He pointed out that many overseas media also use Hong Kong as a regional base. The Hong Kong government will continue to assist overseas media to operate in Hong Kong, emphasizing the need to abide by local laws, including " Minato National Security Law.

When asked if he would promise to process visa applications for overseas journalists in a timely and transparent manner, Carrie Lam said that the promise has been written in the Basic Law, and that it would depend on actual figures. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had quoted data from the Hong Kong government yesterday. This proves how many overseas journalists the Hong Kong government has issued visas to prove that the Hong Kong government has continued to assist overseas media to operate in Hong Kong.

Zhao Lijian said yesterday that after the implementation of the "Hong Kong National Security Law", the number of foreign news media and practitioners entering Hong Kong has increased unabated. As of April 2021, there are 628 foreign media in Hong Kong holding work visas. Compared with the same period last year There was an increase of 98 people, an increase of 18.5%. Taking the Economist as an example, the number of foreign employees in Hong Kong has increased by 22% in the past year.

[10:00] When asked about the report about the government's plan to quarantine the crew members returning to Hong Kong on the 14th, Carrie Lam said that because she was attending other activities this morning, she hadn't read relevant reports.

She said that the Hong Kong government and Cathay Pacific have conducted close discussions over the past few days to take relevant measures regarding the three cases of cargo aircraft personnel contracting new coronary pneumonia.

[09:55] A reporter from Phoenix Satellite TV asked whether the earlier incident of Cathay Pacific pilot's infection had any impact on the customs clearance between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Carrie Lam responded that the incident had no impact and all preparations and discussions are still in progress.

[09:50] Carrie Lam said that Hong Kong society must operate normally. Aircrews, seafarers, and cross-border freight drivers are exempted from quarantine. The starting point is not for individual industries, but for the normal operation of society.

Therefore, the smooth flow of air and sea transportation is important to the Hong Kong society. The government has further cancelled most of the quarantine-free arrangements, but if there are no incoming goods, I don't know how the society will operate.

She emphasized that the government is not completely letting go. It has close contact with airlines. For example, crew members staying overseas should also be closed-loop.

She pointed out that Cathay Pacific’s recent tightening of arrangements is a measure that the Transport and Housing Bureau and Cathay Pacific have negotiated for a few days. The government will maintain monitoring; when necessary, it will only use more stringent measures.

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