Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Hong Kong has been faced with the inconvenience of communicating with people from the Mainland and overseas. How to achieve "customs clearance" in both aspects has always been one of the biggest concerns of the public.
Hong Kong will hold a large-scale financial summit and the International Rugby Sevens in November, which will be an opportunity to re-show Hong Kong's international city to the outside world. Some reports describe this as a "dead line" in opening up to the world. At that time, entry restrictions must be relaxed.
Some politicians admitted frankly that both government officials and even the public remarks of the representatives of the local establishment all point to the priority of customs clearance with overseas, while the mainland and other places are adopting two completely different anti-epidemic strategies. , the side shows that the Hong Kong government has "half-abandoned" customs clearance with the mainland, but it will not be stated because of political correctness.
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The dilemma of customs clearance
As we all know, due to the completely different direction of the Mainland's "dynamic clearing" and the Western countries' "coexistence" policy, Hong Kong has been caught between the East and the West since the outbreak of the Omicron epidemic at the beginning of this year. The non-proliferation policy cannot be "dynamically cleared", resulting in the inability to clear customs with the mainland, and the international fear of foreign businessmen, which affects Hong Kong's status as an international financial center.
The last government seemed to finally understand this at the end of its term, first lifting the "no-fly order" in individual areas and relaxing social distancing measures in April.
The current-term government will cancel the "circuit breaker mechanism" for flights in certain regions, and start to study the shortening of the entry quarantine time. It may initially change from 7 days to "5+2" allowing home quarantine. Red and Yellow Code” policy instead.
Although the government has yet to announce the official details, all the above measures are actually moving towards relaxation, that is, customs clearance with other places is the priority.
Even though the Chief Executive Li Jiachao has always said that there is no conflict between the "internal customs" and the "external customs", everyone knows that there is always a certain risk of virus transmission in the relaxation of quarantine restrictions, and the SAR needs to make a certain choice between the two.
Earlier in the government's exchange meeting in the front office of the Legislative Council, a number of lawmakers told the author that they vaguely felt that the government had placed the most urgent priority on customs clearance with overseas countries. It's just that the official level is reluctant to publicly admit it.
Ye Liu Shuyi, the convener of the Executive Council, admitted in a public event the day before that the financial sector needs to travel abroad to do business.
Tian Beichen: Gradually transition to "0+7"
Tian Beichen, a member of the Legislative Council of the Real Policy Roundtable, pointed out that entry quarantine has always been required to change from the current "7+0" to "3+4", and then to "0+7", and that home quarantine is fully adopted for business travelers and suspended during the period. Vaccine passport to achieve the effect of control.
He pointed out that November is not too late, and the new policy always requires "crossing the river by feeling the stones", but reiterated that the "red and yellow code" measures are "superfluous", because any arriving passengers who are diagnosed during the quarantine period will be diagnosed Sent to Penny's Bay for isolation or wearing a wristband for monitoring at home, the vaccine pass itself has the function of restricting the travel of high-risk people.
He pointed out that he is quite confident that the final version of the government will not be the "red, yellow and green" codes under "Travel with Peace of Mind", but will be implemented through a vaccine passport.
Lin Jianfeng: Based on scientific data to support orderly relaxation of quarantine
Lin Jianfeng, a member of the Pakatan Harapan Legislative Council, said that any adjustment of the epidemic prevention policy by the government must have a scientific basis. found, and the nucleic acid test on the 5th day of hotel quarantine pushed the detection rate to 95%.
According to this figure, Lin Jianfeng believes that if the number of days for hotel quarantine is gradually relaxed in the future, such as 3 to 4 days, and the rate of finding cases is similar, the number of days can continue to be gradually reduced to balance convenience and epidemic prevention needs, "I believe that if it can be changed to Home isolation, business friends will not mind using electronic wristbands." He also mentioned that since the current home environment permits confirmed people to accept home isolation, there is no reason why undiagnosed people returning to Hong Kong from other places cannot.
Lin Jianfeng believes that in the long run, of course, agreeing to relax quarantine measures will help Hong Kong's international status, but the premise is that Hong Kong itself must "come up" and do its part in epidemic prevention, such as citizens getting all the vaccines, as few as possible to as many people as possible. Place, consciously and correctly wear masks, etc., especially pointed out that the government recently stated that people who have completed home isolation can cut off their electronic wristbands. They believe that there are opportunities for loopholes. It is recommended to ask these people who have completed isolation to go to designated government centers, and the staff will assist in cutting them. drop, make sure nothing goes wrong.
Tan Yaozong pointed out that he agreed to relax the import prevention measures.
(Photo by Yu Junliang)
Tan Yaozong admits that it is unrealistic to fully switch the mainland
It is worth mentioning that Tan Yaozong, member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, was asked by a reporter about the news of the "November customs clearance deadline" after attending the event yesterday. Good management and control work, described as "the sooner the better".
As for customs clearance with the mainland, he pointed out that the epidemic in the mainland has also been repeated repeatedly, and it is unrealistic to ask the mainland to fully open up to Hong Kong at once. The main efforts at present are to expand the quota, make special arrangements for school children, and isolate them at the "posts" in Hong Kong first. Expressed to the SAR government.
Tan Yaozong later replied to "Hong Kong 01" and pointed out that the current focus of customs clearance with the mainland is no longer the issue of "comprehensive customs clearance".
He believes that the epidemic should be well controlled both internally and externally, but it is also one of President Xi Jinping's expectations for Hong Kong in his "July 1 speech".
A senior member of the establishment, who did not want to be named, talked to the author about Tan Yaozong's remarks. Since he has publicly admitted that it is not realistic to complete customs clearance with the mainland, and Hong Kong always needs to interact with the international community, it is obvious that customs clearance with overseas is the future of the SAR government. A few months of work priorities.
Does that indicate that the customs clearance with the mainland has "frozen water"?
The establishment laughed without saying a word, and the answer is all in silence.
Lawmakers advocate Hong Kong as mainland 'pilot' to ease quarantine
DAB Health Spokesperson and Legislative Council Member Leung Hee analyzed that the implementation of policies in the Mainland will be carried out in the form of "pilot" from time to time. Just as in April this year, 8 cities were selected as the "7+3" pilot cities for shortening the quarantine period. There have been no major problems in the past month, and the "7+3" has been implemented nationwide. It is believed that Hong Kong might as well serve as a test field for the country to further shorten the isolation period.
However, some politicians also admitted that even if the mainland intends to relax, it may not be a short-term thing. At least before the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, it is difficult to expect that the mainland will make significant adjustments to the "dynamic zero" policy. Customs clearance between Hong Kong and the mainland is even more difficult.
Customs Clearance︱Tan Yaozong: Support international customs clearance as soon as possible and reduce the number of hotel quarantine days | Ye Liu: You can first clear customs with other places to reduce travel obstacles red and yellow codes do not monitor ordinary citizens to clear customs in the Mainland︱Leung Chun-ying said that the quarantine period has been shortened Should be afraid of quarantine: Nansha has many opportunities
