China News Agency, Hong Kong, December 29th (Reporter Han Xingtong) Starting on December 29th, Hong Kong canceled all social distancing measures and only maintained the "mask order".
On the first day of the implementation of the new measures, reporters took to the streets to conduct interviews. Whether it was the person in charge of the interviewed restaurant or ordinary citizens, they all expressed satisfaction with the new arrangements.
Some citizens feel that after three years, they have finally returned to their normal life before the epidemic, and they are delighted.
On December 28, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government held a press conference, announcing the cancellation of the quarantine order, no longer defining close contacts, and canceling the vaccine pass, mandatory nucleic acid testing requirements for all immigrants, and all social distance measures, only maintaining the mask order. Effective from the 29th.
The picture shows the scene of the press conference.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Chen Yongnuo
The reporter went to Tseung Kwan O, Wan Chai and other places that day and found that some restaurants and theaters had not had time to dismantle the "vaccine pass" scanning equipment originally installed at the entrance, and the notice reminding to show the "vaccine pass", but no special personnel to check "" Vaccine pass", customers can enter as usual.
Some restaurants are already full of customers at noon, and there are more than ten people waiting outside, which seems to be a booming business.
The reporter noticed that although the current requirement for a distance of 1.5 meters between dining tables has been cancelled, the restaurant has not yet been rearranged.
Mr. Chen, the person in charge of the restaurant, told the reporter that the temporary maintenance of the status quo is not only because it takes time to adjust, but also because the current epidemic situation is still severe. Most of the guests who come to drink tea are elderly, and it is safer to continue to keep a considerable distance.
Mr. Chen welcomed the cancellation of social distance measures by the SAR government before the New Year and Spring Festival, and believed that it would help the restaurant business.
He revealed that on the same day, people started to inquire about the company's plans for year-end dinners, parties, etc., and it is believed that the turnover will increase by 30% to 40%.
Outside an Emperor Cinema, audiences were queuing up to enter with movie tickets, popcorn and drinks. The theater staff only instructed the audience to show movie tickets or electronic orders.
Ms. Cai, who watched the afternoon show "Avatar: The Way of Water" with her friends, told reporters that she was delighted to cancel the epidemic prevention measures. "Before watching a movie, I had food and drinks in my hands, and I had to take movie tickets and scan codes for vaccines." Pass', in a hurry. Now I have basically returned to the normal life before the epidemic."
The theater staff also admitted frankly that three staff members were required to check the tickets and check the "vaccine pass" at the same time during the weekend peak period, which also seemed powerless. The queues waiting to enter the venue were always very long. The waiting time for spectators to check tickets has been increased.
Ms. Gu, a Hong Kong resident who is traveling in Japan during the Christmas holiday, was very excited when she learned that the mandatory nucleic acid test for entry was cancelled. She told reporters via the Internet that the arrangement facilitates Hong Kong people to travel and overseas tourists to Hong Kong. The tourism industry is revived.
However, Ms. Gu believes that the abolition of all social distancing measures except the "mask order" is a good thing for citizens to return to normal life, but citizens still need to take precautions, especially the elderly and children who are weak.
Lu Chongmao, director of the Medical and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, said on the same day that Hong Kong has moved towards normalcy in recent months, including the cancellation of quarantine measures for inbound tourists.
He described the cancellation of most epidemic prevention-related measures this time as a steady and orderly relaxation and return to normal after balancing the anti-epidemic effect and social costs, as well as comparing risks and economic momentum.
Lu Chongmao believes that the current public is very familiar with virus protection, and the current epidemic situation is different from the beginning of the epidemic three years ago due to the mutation of the virus and the improvement of immunity. It is time to hand over the responsibility and power of infection prevention and quarantine to citizen.
He said that he believes that the current medical system is capable of coping with the pressure of the epidemic after the relaxation of measures.
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