Lam rejected reports that the government would "give in" to airlines' demands to a great extent but reassured them of smooth and reasonable operations.

In her daily Covid press conference, Lam insisted that Hong Kong needs to suspend flights that once have carried a large number of confirmed patients in order to stick to the principle of "preventing the importation of cases."

On Monday, Lam canceled the flight ban imposed on nine countries, including the US, the UK, and Australia, and shortened the quarantine requirement to at least seven days for inbound travelers.

Yet, Executive Council member Bernard Chan warned that the shortened quarantine requirement, which he said is acceptable for the moment, cannot last long. He explained that such a requirement has been dropped by many other countries.

Speaking on a radio program Saturday morning, Chan pointed out it is not likely for international enterprises – which used to have their Asia-Pacific headquarters set up here in Hong Kong – to return to the city once they have relocated.

Yet, there is still a chance that those companies will return, given that they will conduct most of their businesses in Greater China areas.

Whether Hong Kong can maintain its status as an international financial hub depends on further development, Chan also said.

Regarding the flight canceling mechanism, Lam added it is an important health measure with the public's interest in mind, and it is not the government's intention to go against airlines' operations.

She continued that the Food and Health Bureau will provide more quarantine hotels for returnees and contact more hotels to increase the number of available rooms.