Writing in a Facebook post on Sunday, Chan said authorities understand the expectation for the full resumption of the business community but emphasised the “risk must be balanced” in epidemic prevention, noting the “0+3” entry format is the “most practical arrangement”.

“The government understands the request for the recovery since Hong Kong’s status as an international financial and trade centre,” Chan wrote.

He added that different sectors benefited from the relaxed entry measures and pointed out that the “0+3” format has not only controlled the risk of the outbreak but also restored the economy as much as possible. “This is the most suitable arrangement,” Chan said.

In addition, he claimed authorities would “introduce the right measures at the right timing”.

The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is scheduled to open in Beijing next Sunday. Several political figures in Hong Kong previously revealed that the city’s entry arrangement would be further lifted after the Congress quoted “mainland sources”.