Hong Kong Will Allow Public Gatherings of Up to 50 People
Hong Kong Will Detail Relaxed Social Distancing Rules Tuesday
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong will further relax virus-related social distancing measures by allowing public gatherings of up to 50 people, as the city continues to be a rare global success story in containing Covid-19.
Top health official Sophia Chan said the easing would go into effect Friday, dramatically raising the size of gatherings from just eight people, and last for 14 days. She referenced the U.S. and Australia, where groups of 50 are also allowed, and Hong Kong authorities’ earlier move to let up to 50 people to attend wedding receptions.
Chan also said party size restriction at restaurants would be lifted, while those at bars, pubs and karaoke rooms would be eased.
Changes include the number of people being able to sit together at bars, pubs and nightclubs doubling to eight as of Friday while live performances and dancing will be able to resume, the government said in a Tuesday night statement. In premises such as gyms, karaokes and party rooms, the capacity limit will double to 16 people.
“We have to strike a balance between at least three main factors -- one is of course the public health concerns, secondly is the impact on the economy, thirdly is the tolerance of the people,” leader Carrie Lam said at a weekly briefing Tuesday morning. “If you continue to keep these measures in place, people become intolerant. So they will not comply with these regulations.”
Public processions and protests of more than 50 people require a notice to police, according to a Hong Kong public order ordinance.
The hub of around 7.5 million people -- roughly the same as New York City’s population -- has been successful in stopping the coronavirus, with only 1,100 cases and just four related deaths. Most residents are still wearing surgical masks, even as life slowly returns to normal.
But it has also been rocked by renewed unrest in recent weeks amid China’s passage of new national security legislation for the city that has raised concerns about basic freedoms and its future autonomy from the mainland.
Pro-democracy protesters say Hong Kong’s government is using the social distancing measures to prevent them from gathering. Hundreds of people defied the restrictions and rallied in Central last week to mark the first anniversary of the mass pro-democracy marches that engulfed the city last year. Thousands more came together for an annual June 4 vigil commemorating Beijing’s 1989 crackdown on activists in Tiananmen Square.
May visitor arrivals to the city fell 99.9% on-year to 8,139, the Hong Kong Tourism Board said Monday.
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