Hong Kong, Singapore to review travel bubble plans in late-August

This followed the recent surge of new confirmed cases in Singapore.

The Hong Kong and Singapore government will go back to the table in late August to discuss plans of launching the air travel bubble (ATB) arrangements.

A spokesman for the Hong Kong government said the ATB could not be launched after Singapore saw COVID-19 cases rise anew.

“Given the recent surge of confirmed cases in Singapore, the condition for launching the ATB could not be met for the time being,” the spokesman said.

“Both sides agreed that a review of the way forward could be conducted in late August, taking into account the effectiveness of the enhanced infection control measures implemented by Singapore and the global situation at that time.”

The Hong Kong and Singapore government had planned on reviving talks on the ATB arrangements in July after the COVID-19 situation in Singapore stabilised.

Read also: Hong Kong, Singapore resume talks on travel bubble plans

The first flight under the ATB arrangement was supposed to take off on 26 May, but was postponed after COVID-19 cases in Singapore increased.

It was deferred for the first time in November last year following the fourth wave of the outbreak in Hong Kong.

Read also:  Rising COVID cases burst HK-SG travel bubble anew