Her comments came after a coalition of leading passenger and cargo airlines called on Hong Kong to scrap pre-flight and on-arrival Covid-19 tests for aircrew in a joint letter, saying they are a key reason to avoid flying to the city.

The Hong Kong leader told reporters during a daily Covid briefing that she had received the letter, and had passed it on to the Transport and Housing Bureau for follow up.

She stressed that Hong Kong is still going to maintain its policy on preventing the importation of Covid cases, or else it would diminish the chances of reopening borders with the mainland and the rest of the world.

Lam added that the Covid situation around the globe remains severe and Hong Kong should not lower its guard against the coronavirus.