Coronavirus: EU-Hong Kong travel deal to ease quarantine, other restrictions ‘unlikely for now given low vaccination rate’

A decision by the European Union to ease travel restrictions for Hongkongers – but only on the condition the city reciprocates – is likely to run into a major roadblock in the form of the stubbornly low rate of local Covid-19 vaccinations, according to a health expert and an industry representative.

The city confirmed no new coronavirus cases on Thursday, but University of Hong Kong microbiologist Dr Ho Pak-leung said that the local vaccination rate still lagged behind countries in the EU. With Hong Kong still vulnerable to outbreaks, he said, it would be more difficult for the city to relax restrictions for incoming travellers.