His comments came days after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that the city would actively “connect with the world to allow an orderly opening-up,” including relaxing mandatory hotel quarantine.

Currently, arrivals must pay for three days in a hotel and follow that with four days of self-monitoring.

It is understood that authorities will announce this afternoon at the earliest to adopt a new “0+7” format for inbound travelers. The new rules will abolish the need for arrivals from overseas to do quarantine at designated hotels. Residents will be able to go straight home and self-monitor for seven days.

Speaking on a radio program this morning, Ho said with Hong Kong having achieved herd immunity, along with an adequate supply of effective antiviral drugs for Covid, it would be safe for Hong Kong to cancel all quarantine or self-monitoring measures for travelers.

He also noted that foreign travelers will still be affected if authorities insist on requiring inbound travelers to undergo nucleic acid tests before flying into the city.

The microbiologist said the vaccine pass should remain the backbone of the city’s normalized anti-epidemic measures and strengthen further the “local defense.”

He suggested authorities mandate young children to receive two doses of the Covid vaccine after November 30 and push forward the deadline for those aged 12 or above to receive three doses to end-October.