Reverse quarantine talks with Shenzhen 'progressing’: CE Lee

Officials are still discussing whether HK citizens will conduct pre-quarantine in the city or Shenzhen. 

Chief Executive John Lee said talks with Shenzhen to implement the reverse quarantine policy are “progressing.”

Lee said high-level officials of the two places are discussing whether the pre-quarantine will be conducted in Hong Kong or Shenzhen.

Under the reverse quarantine plan, travellers will be undergoing quarantine in Hong Kong before travelling to the Mainland, by way of Shenzhen, in a closed loop.

“What is important is the idea of reverse quarantine or pre-quarantine is to allow our people from Hong Kong to (enter) the Mainland while conforming to the '7+3' (quarantine requirement), which (has been) implemented in the Mainland,” Lee said.

“The quarantine requirement remains sustained, provided (that) the standard (of the quarantine requirement) is accepted by Shenzhen,” he added.

The Chief Executive explained that once people have gone through the pre-departure quarantine process in Hong Kong, they will be deemed as having satisfied the requirement in the same way as those who have completed the “7+3” quarantine arrangement in Shenzhen.

“So the concept is simple,  to conform to a standard which will not increase the risk to the Shenzhen authorities,” he added.