Sharjah24 – Reuters: Hong Kong is dropping a provision for most consular staff to serve quarantine at home, opting for hotel stays instead, as it doubles down on some of the world's toughest coronavirus curbs, hoping to sway mainland China to open the border with the city.
The global financial hub is following Beijing's lead in retaining draconian travel curbs, in contrast to a global trend of opening up and living with the coronavirus.
"We are doing this to ensure the risk is reduced to the minimum, because we can see that the cases in Hong Kong are imported cases," Chief Secretary John Lee told reporters on Monday, adding that the new rules take effect on Nov. 12.
The government had identified two imported cases linked to consular staff, it said in a separate statement.
Until now, staff at consulates have only been required to quarantine at home, unlike most others arriving in Hong Kong, who have had to isolate themselves in a hotel for up to 21 days at their own cost.
The new rules cover all those below the rank of consul general, who will still be permitted home quarantine.
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