Speaking a day after the meeting in Shenzhen on Sunday, Lee said the central government has attached importance on Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's requests for border reopenings, and the SAR is hoping for another meeting on the matter as soon as possible.

“Hong Kong must keep its anti-epidemic measures effective. Not only is this important for the SAR's Covid-19 situation, but it will also set a good foundation for border reopening,” he said.

He said in the meeting, the mainland officials and experts recognized the city's achievement in obtaining “zero local infection” for over 40 days.

“But we also know the epidemic fluctuates. Even for the mainland, where health measures have been strict, there have been new cases, and the same for Macau, especially when the Delta mutant variant brings much uncertainties,” he said.

“Hong Kong plays a major part in the nation's epidemic control, we must make sure the border reopening won't bring extra risks to the mainland.”

Lee said SAR authorities will continue to improve health policies, including those for arrivals, tests, quarantine and overall Covid-19 risk assessments.

“We will make enhancements proactively and promptly. We will also make a report to the Chief Executive. We hope we can have a second meeting with mainland authorities very soon,” he said.

Asked if mainland officials have raised any conditions and requirements for the SAR to meet before reopening borders, Lee said: “When we discussed our targets, we exchanged our honest opinions, but there were no conditions for border reopening being raised.”