Hong Kong New Quarantine Measures Spark Outbound Travel, Hurt Local Economy

Passengers checking in at the Hong Kong International Airport, Sept. 6, 2022. Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times

The Hong Kong government implemented the new “0+3” quarantine measures on Sept. 26. After arriving in Hong Kong, inbound travelers are no longer required to undergo compulsory quarantine in designated quarantine hotels, but will be under three days of medical surveillance, and are allowed to go out but not eat in restaurants during that time.

The news immediately set off a rush for airline tickets and hotel accommodations for Hong Kong residents, which slowed the websites of airlines, travel agencies, and SAR passport applications, and caused fares for individual flights to soar. Some travel agency staff said that the price of a ticket to Japan had more than doubled.

Five catering trade associations signed a letter to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, expressing their concerns that as the number of visitors to Hong Kong is far less than that of local citizens traveling outside Hong Kong, local retail sales will be negatively affected and a new tide of closures and layoffs will occur.

Criticized for Relaxing Quarantine Regulations

As visitors to Hong Kong cannot enter restaurants and bars for the first three days after arrival, Chung Kim-wah, former associate professor of applied social sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University sees the harm of such measures more than the benefits. “Unless there is a necessary reason to visit Hong Kong, there are many other options of travel destinations for foreign tourists,” he said.

Recently, the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates announced the cancellation of the Standard Chartered Marathon (SCM). In contrast, the Singapore SCM will be held as scheduled on Dec. 4. The World Dragon Boat Racing Championships will be moved from Hong Kong to Thailand in 2023, and Royal Caribbean International intends to abandon the relaunch of the high sea cruise in Hong Kong. Pro-CCP party members, businesspeople, and medical professionals have also publicly criticized the Hong Kong government’s strict anti-epidemic policies, preventing Hong Kong society from resuming normal life, and damaging Hong Kong’s economy and international competitiveness.

On Sept. 23, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee held a press conference, announcing that in response to the decline of the epidemic and balancing various factors, the quarantine arrangement for inbound airline travelers was changed from “3+4” to “0+3;” presentation of a negative PCR report prior to boarding is no longer be required and is replaced by a declaration of rapid antigen testing (RAT). Vaccination for Hong Kong residents returning to Hong Kong has also been lifted. All measures became effective on Sept. 26.

Under the new measures, inbound persons are subject to three-day medical surveillance and will be assigned an “Amber Code,” which indicates tthey are barred from restaurants, bars, and some other premises. If the PCR test taken on arrival in Hong Kong is negative, their “Amber Code” will be changed to “Blue Code'' at 9:00 am on the fourth day. Inbound travelers are required to undergo PCR tests on days two, four, and six, and must have daily Antigen tests until day seven.

Residents Booking Air Tickets and Accommodations

Once the update of the new measures was announced, Hong Kong residents scrambled to book air tickets and hotel rooms. Websites of airlines, travel agencies, and for HKSAR passport application were jammed, the price of particular flights rose sharply, and long queues formed outside travel agencies.

When interviewed by The Epoch Times, some citizens said that they had signed up to travel agencies and planned to travel to Japan at the end of next month. They added that the “0+3” measure was their major incentive for traveling abroad as they don’t have to be quarantined when they return. Some citizens planned to travel to Thailand as they have not traveled for over two and a half years. They headed to the travel agency for details right after the HKgov announced the new “0+3” measure. Some citizens said they planned to travel to Japan after the new measures were announced but found that the Japan-bound tours were already full.

Catering Industry: Few Visitors

On Sept. 25, five catering trade associations signed a letter to Chief Executive John Lee and Secretary for Health Lo Chung Mau saying they believe that the “0+3” measure will encourage a lot of citizens to travel abroad and thus undermine local retail sales and consumption. The number of incoming tourists will be far less than the number of citizens traveling abroad. Therefore, they anticipate a new hit to the catering industry, which would intensify the tide of closures and layoffs.

Scholars Question the Merits of the ‘0+3’

The Chamber of the Legislative Council Complex in Hong Kong. Adrian Yu/The Epoch Times

National People’s Congress Standing Committee member Tam Yiu-chung was asked on Sept. 25 about the timetable for moving to “0+0.” He said he agreed with the government’s gradual relaxation approach and believed that if the epidemic constantly stabilized, “0+0” could be implemented. He said the “0+3” measure is in line with public expectations and conforms to public opinion.

Chung Kim-wah doubts that the implementation of “0+3” entry regulations will attract tourists to Hong Kong because travelers are barred from restaurants and bars for the first 3 days after arrival, and there are many other travel destinations in the world for people to choose from. Additionally, for Hong Kong residents, with the hotel quarantine requirement lifted,  they will not be subjected to additional costs in hotel accommodation when they return, and thus are motivated to travel.

He also pointed out that during the six weeks after the implementation of the “3+4” quarantine requirement on Aug. 12, the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong rose to more than 10,000 per day. He questioned the government’s  belief that the quarantine measure was effective, otherwise there would be no reason to relax it to “0+3.” He believes that “0+3” is due to pressure, “Everyone knows that both ‘3+4’ and ‘0+3’ measures are meaningless, but the government wants to save face and considers the responses of the CCP. Coming up with the bizarre result that Hong Kong residents’ motivation to travel abroad is liberated, but the overseas tourists are not attracted.” Although the new rules lift the restrictions on Hong Kong residents who travel outside Hong Kong, they don’t do enough to bring tourists into Hong Kong.

Regarding the impact of  “0+3” on Hong Kong’s economy, scholars estimate that the retail  and catering industries will definitely be “seeing the downside before they can benefit from the upside.” He also questioned why the Legislative Council, with many representatives of the business sector, seemed to play no role in the government’s change of policy, and why those in the business sector have not spoken up.

Taking a broader view, Chung believes that the move reflects the changes in the election system of the Legislative Council (LegCo). The entire LegCo is controlled by pro-CCP members, thus all members of the LegCo only look to the CCP for instructions. He also believes that the government’s suppression of the LegCo and District Council members will not make governance better, but will only make it more prone to mistakes, as there is no one to check and balance the government.