HK seeks ways to return residents trapped in UK

The Hong Kong government said on Monday that it was looking at ways to bring back scores of residents who have been stuck in the UK for months, as it extended a ban on arrivals from countries affected by highly-transmissible Covid-19 variants.

The SAR introduced the ban on arrivals from Britain on December 22 as it sought ways to prevent a new, more infectious strain of Covid-19 from reaching Hong Kong.

It applies to anyone who has spent at least two hours in the UK in the 21 days prior to boarding. Brazil, Ireland and South Africa are covered by the same rules.

Reports say more than 400 Hong Kong residents in Britain and elsewhere have sought help from the Immigration Department, with some saying they had only prepared for a short trip.

A government spokesman said: “The government recognises that the measures in relation to Group A specified places are very stringent, and would inevitably affect the return journey of a number of Hong Kong residents there (mostly in the United Kingdom).

“Since late December last year, the number of newly confirmed cases in the UK, where the majority of the affected Hong Kong residents are situated, has fallen from the high of over 400,000 in a week to about 40,000 in the first week of March.

“We also noted that over 24 million people in the UK, or over one-third of the population, have received at least the first dose of vaccine.

“In view of this, the government is exploring arrangements that could facilitate these residents’ direct return to Hong Kong without compromising the public health of the local community. Details of the arrangements will be announced separately at an appropriate juncture.”

The government statement did not specify how long the restrictions would stay in place for.

The administration said it was also planning to keep a 21-day hotel quarantine requirement in place for all destinations outside China for the time being.