Article author:
Reuters
Beijing — Hong Kong's new Secretary of Health said Monday that he hopes the border with Shenzhen will reopen by August 4.
Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau posted a blog on the website of the Hong Kong Health Department, where relatives separated by the border between Hong Kong and mainland China are the "Qixi" festival, which is equivalent to Valentine's Day in China. I hope we can meet again in time. This year is the day to be held on August 4th.
"The epidemic has been curbed, and with the joint cooperation of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, more people will return to the mainland for a family reunion ... to Shenzhen via the Shenzhen Bay Bridge. You can enter, "Law wrote, whose appointment was announced by the Chinese National Council last month.
This is not the first time Hong Kong officials have suggested a possible border reopening, but a Lo statement was issued last week after China halved the quarantine time for inbound travelers. .. She blocked travel to China for two and a half years, including a trip from Hong Kong.
In Lo's blog post, published only in Chinese, he went from Hong Kong to mainland China, despite seven days of new quarantine time in a centralized facility followed by three days of self-monitoring. He said entry into the country is still ongoing. troublesome.
Lo writes that the demand for quarantine hotels in Shenzhen increased only due to the shortening of the quarantine period. Lo also pointed out other recurring problems, such as booking a bus seat from Hong Kong to Shenzhen.
Lo stated that the opening of the border between Hong Kong and mainland China depends on the epidemic situation in Hong Kong and the reduction of infections in the community.
Hong Kong reported 1,645 local coronavirus infections and 196 imported infections on Monday.
Lo's post sparked a debate about China's Weibo social media platform, with some users opposed this measure due to imported infections and the consequent fear of blockade in mainland China. Was announced.
"I can't open that much ... the moment the problem occurs, a lot of people are involved. Currently, the virus infection rate is very high," writes user Ci1027. increase.
Other Weibo users are skeptical that the August 4th deadline is feasible, but hope that Lo's blog post will signal a resumption soon. Did.
"If this really happens, it will be the best news this year," wrote one user in neighboring Guangdong. (Report by Eduardo Baptista, edited by William Maclean)
