Spread! Returning to China via Hong Kong is even more fragrant! It is expected that Hong Kong will be "free of quarantine" when entering Hong Kong in November "! Remove entry quarantine restrictions!

Hong Kong's newly appointed Director of the Medical and Health Bureau, Lu Chongmao, expects that the entry quarantine restrictions are expected to be lifted in early November this year.

In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, he said that he would retain the requirements for nucleic acid testing for immigrants, but he did not rule out considering relaxing other measures, including abolishing fixed-point isolation and replacing it with medical monitoring. He also suggested that through the "yellow code" of the mobile phone tracking program, they should be prohibited from conducting "high-risk" activities in the first few days of entry, such as entering bars.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority plans to hold an international investment summit from November 1 to 2, inviting senior banking and financial officials from all over the world to come to Hong Kong. Lu Chongmao said: "The state will not blindly ask Hong Kong to follow the national policy, which should be gratifying to our foreign businessmen. 」

He said that Hong Kong can never be completely cleared. The population structure, medical system and vaccination rate of mainland China are different. Hong Kong does not need to completely copy its epidemic prevention policy. In the past two years or so, our anti-epidemic policy has indeed embodied one country, two systems, "he said 」.

At present, there are an average of more than 2,000 confirmed cases in Hong Kong every day, but the severe cases are at a low level. So far, a total of more than 120 people have been infected. According to the government's internal assessment, Lu Chongmao expects Hong Kong to usher in another peak of the epidemic in September, when up to 10,000 patients will need to be hospitalized. As an advocate of the "red and yellow code", he again defended the proposed policy, saying that it was to contain cases as soon as possible and avoid tightening social distance measures again.

The Hong Kong government proposes to implement "health codes" similar to those in Mainland China. Those who confirm "red codes" and "yellow codes" hotel quarantine personnel will be restricted to varying degrees. However, the private sector and some scholars criticized the authorities for violating their promises, questioning the effectiveness of the "red and yellow code" in epidemic prevention, and that they would be abused to restrict personal freedom.

On Tuesday (July 12), the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and PricewaterhouseCoopers issued a report stating that Hong Kong must allow financial practitioners to enter and leave the country freely in order to maintain its status as a global investment and banking center. It is crucial that Hong Kong carefully balance its status as an international financial center with local public health care considerations, "the report reads. 」

Hong Kong uses "dynamic zero clearing" as its anti-epidemic policy, and strictly controls inbound flights and passengers. Arrivals must rent expensive isolated hotels at their own expense. This has become one of the reasons why many foreign businessmen have withdrawn their regional headquarters and employees. In addition, the influx of local residents has led to a large brain drain. In the first quarter of this year alone, Hong Kong has recorded a net outflow of more than 140,000 people.

It was only last week that the Hong Kong government revoked the long-standing flight circuit breaker mechanism. However, major competitors in the region, such as Singapore and South Korea, have lifted travel restrictions and attracted some foreign capital to move to the region, including many financial enterprises. The US-European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong announced an industry survey earlier this year, saying that many foreign businessmen are considering leaving Hong Kong in the short term.

According to the report, Hong Kong is the largest hedge fund center in Asia, and more than half of the major funds under management of US $1 billion or more are located in Hong Kong. Phillip Meyer, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Alternative Investment Management Association, said that "this message is being sent from every corner of the business community", calling on the authorities to listen carefully. Philip Meyer warned: "The worst thing is that if the situation remains the same in the coming year, there will be great challenges. Some companies and businessmen who have been sticking to Hong Kong for many years may leave. 」