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John Lee announces scrapping of Hong Kong mask mandate from tomorrow
Chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday that Hong Kong will drop the Covid-19 mask mandate, seeking to entice back tourists and business more than three years after tighter rules took effect.
Lee told a press conference that Hong Kong is one of the last places on earth that still imposes a mask mandate.
The measure will take effect on Wednesday.
"We think this is the best time to make this decision. It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Lee said.
In high-risk places such as hospitals and residential care homes, he said that administrators can decide whether to require staff and visitors to wear masks.
Meanwhile, in order to protect high-risk groups, the city’s health chief Lo Chung-mau said administrative measures will be in place to require visitors of medical facilities to wear their masks, while authorities strongly advise staff and visitors of residential care homes to do the same.
The zero-Covid policy has been in place in Hong Kong and Macau for the past three years. Hong Kong began easing its strict Covid rules last year, but mask-wearing has remained constant.
Residents, business groups, diplomats, and many residents slammed Hong Kong's Covid-19 rules, saying they threatened its competitiveness and international reputation.
Even though authorities announced last week that they would eliminate daily rapid antigen tests starting with secondary school students on March 1 and primary schools and nurseries on March 15, daily rapid antigen tests are still required.
There is widespread concern over the effect of the mask rule on learning and child development in Hong Kong, even in schools where children as young as two are required to wear them outside their homes.
In mainland China, residents are not required to wear masks outdoors, although authorities encourage them to do so in public indoor areas such as airports and train stations.
Macau, a neighboring special administrative region, announced on February 26 that it would drop Covid-19-related mask requirements except for public transportation and hospitals.
The government of Hong Kong scrapped the masks after launching a promotional campaign called "Hello Hong Kong" this month to bring back tourists and businesses that have avoided the former British colony since 2020.
The measure will take effect on Wednesday.
"We think this is the best time to make this decision. It is a clear message to show Hong Kong is resuming normalcy," Lee said.
In high-risk places such as hospitals and residential care homes, he said that administrators can decide whether to require staff and visitors to wear masks.
Meanwhile, in order to protect high-risk groups, the city’s health chief Lo Chung-mau said administrative measures will be in place to require visitors of medical facilities to wear their masks, while authorities strongly advise staff and visitors of residential care homes to do the same.
The zero-Covid policy has been in place in Hong Kong and Macau for the past three years. Hong Kong began easing its strict Covid rules last year, but mask-wearing has remained constant.
Residents, business groups, diplomats, and many residents slammed Hong Kong's Covid-19 rules, saying they threatened its competitiveness and international reputation.
Even though authorities announced last week that they would eliminate daily rapid antigen tests starting with secondary school students on March 1 and primary schools and nurseries on March 15, daily rapid antigen tests are still required.
There is widespread concern over the effect of the mask rule on learning and child development in Hong Kong, even in schools where children as young as two are required to wear them outside their homes.
In mainland China, residents are not required to wear masks outdoors, although authorities encourage them to do so in public indoor areas such as airports and train stations.
Macau, a neighboring special administrative region, announced on February 26 that it would drop Covid-19-related mask requirements except for public transportation and hospitals.
The government of Hong Kong scrapped the masks after launching a promotional campaign called "Hello Hong Kong" this month to bring back tourists and businesses that have avoided the former British colony since 2020.
