Businesses in Hong Kong hampered by quarantine measures

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Businesses in Hong Kong hampered by quarantine measures

PETER PARKS AFP HONG KONG The Hong Kong General Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce has called on city Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to relax or lift cross-border travel restrictions when he delivers his Policy Address, as local companies business has been hampered by the city's long-standing quarantine measures.

According to the latest survey by the chamber on Monday, 38 percent of the companies have cut or are planning to reduce their business in Hong Kong, and 86 percent of the respondents say that the city's quarantine requirements have had a great impact on face-to- face communication with customers and their respective new business developments.

The chamber interviewed 395 businesses, half of which were small and medium-sized enterprises, and the other half large enterprises.

The survey, conducted May 24 - 31 this year, was lifted on Monday when inbound travelers entering Hong Kong were still subject to hotel quarantine.

A number of consultation sessions were held in August to collect views from members, and the survey results remain largely unchanged, according to chamber CEO George Leung Siu-kayLeung Siu-kay. He stressed that restoring cross-border travel was the key to retaining businesses.

Hong Kong officials announced on Friday that the hotel quarantine for inbound travelers would end, and that tourists and returning residents would not have to be quarantined at designated hotels.

Those arriving in the city are now allowed to go to their offices and take public transportation, but are not allowed to go to restaurants and bars during their first three days in the city.

Leung believes that the authorities will look at the pandemic prevention requirements and increase the number of people allowed to gather publicly and the operating hours of businesses to facilitate large-scale events.

Chamber Chairwoman Betty Yuen So Siu-mai said Monday s relaxation of the 0 3 system will inevitably lead to more outbound travel by Hong Kong people, causing local consumption to be hampered.

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She believes that the impact will be temporary, as easing travel restrictions will boost employment and business confidence in the future and stimulate local economic activity in the long term.

In response to the special administrative region government's policy address next month, the chamber also presented a number of suggestions, including the need for unconditional cross-border travel, the introduction of preferential policies to retain imported and local talent, as well as the re-establishment of Hong Kong's status as a tourist destination.