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Tuesday, May 13, 2025
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Health expert, govt united on use of LeaveHomeSafe
The LeaveHomeSafe tracing app will remain in our smartphones for a bit longer after the technology minister, and a health expert threw their support behind keeping the measure in place.
Speaking on a radio program Saturday, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong confirmed the government will not cancel the LeaveHomeSafe app mandate.
“So far, the LeaveHomeSafe app with a Red/Amber Code system has a very important role in fighting against the pandemic with precision,” Sun told media after the program.
“We use the LeaveHomeSafe app system to support the government's anti-pandemic policies very successfully. So currently, we have no plan to cancel the LeaveHomeSafe app.”
He continued that although the app doesn't have a tracking function, it can track the whereabouts of citizens possessing an Amber or Red Health Code.
Meanwhile, health expert Ivan Hung Fan-ngai suggested keeping the LeaveHomeSafe mandate to track the whereabouts of unvaccinated citizens but scrapping all other tracing measures, including compulsory testing.
He called on the government to focus its resources on vaccinating Hongkongers against Covid-19 and the flu.
Hung pointed out that the app mandate remains an effective measure for the unvaccinated and can lower infection risks, especially in winter.
He also recommended cutting the home isolation requirement for close contacts who are vaccinated or have contracted Covid before, but not for unvaccinated citizens who should still be subject to the measure.
Hung slammed that the four-people group gathering cap doesn't have any scientific grounds and the cap should be relaxed to 12, just like the relaxed upper limit of each table at restaurants.
“So far, the LeaveHomeSafe app with a Red/Amber Code system has a very important role in fighting against the pandemic with precision,” Sun told media after the program.
“We use the LeaveHomeSafe app system to support the government's anti-pandemic policies very successfully. So currently, we have no plan to cancel the LeaveHomeSafe app.”
He continued that although the app doesn't have a tracking function, it can track the whereabouts of citizens possessing an Amber or Red Health Code.
Meanwhile, health expert Ivan Hung Fan-ngai suggested keeping the LeaveHomeSafe mandate to track the whereabouts of unvaccinated citizens but scrapping all other tracing measures, including compulsory testing.
He called on the government to focus its resources on vaccinating Hongkongers against Covid-19 and the flu.
Hung pointed out that the app mandate remains an effective measure for the unvaccinated and can lower infection risks, especially in winter.
He also recommended cutting the home isolation requirement for close contacts who are vaccinated or have contracted Covid before, but not for unvaccinated citizens who should still be subject to the measure.
Hung slammed that the four-people group gathering cap doesn't have any scientific grounds and the cap should be relaxed to 12, just like the relaxed upper limit of each table at restaurants.
