Hong Kong health chief Lo Chung-mau rejected claims that he was against reopening and said that he would fully normalize the city immediately «if it’s possible».
Hong Kong health secretary Lo Chung-mau is one of the top and last remaining voices defending Covid restrictions, despite increasing focus by other parts of the government to promote the city’s reopening, most notably for the upcoming financial summit in November which has reportedly secured dozens of financial leaders for attendance.
«Personally, I hope to open up,» Lo said in an interview with «Bloomberg». «I don’t think I am the one who is against further opening up. I am the one who is gauging the healthcare issue with the need to open up.»
Divided Government?
Lo’s defense further casts the spotlight on speculation of a divide within the government over reopening plans. Earlier this month, Lo denied a separate report about this divide that claimed he had originally opposed scrapping hotel quarantine by November, in contrast with other officials like chief executive John Lee.
And last Sunday, he said in another television interview that now was not the time to further relax travel curbs by also dropping the three-day health surveillance rule.
«[I]f it’s possible today, I won’t wait till tomorrow,» Lo reiterated in the latest report.
