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Beijing has pledged support for Hong Kong’s “scientific-based coronavirus adjustments” aimed at further opening up the city to mainland China and the world, despite frequent Covid-19 outbreaks across the country.
National Health Commission Vice-Minister Cao Xuetao gave the assurance in a flagship healthcare summit held in Hong Kong on Thursday, after the city’s leader said authorities had been identifying room to ease more pandemic restrictions and working on dedicated plans “to bring a world of business back”.
“Local outbreaks in various mainland provinces and cities are widespread, frequent and involve a large number of cases. We still cannot let down our guard in epidemic control,” Cao, also a distinguished Chinese immunologist, told the audience in a video speech.
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“Based on scientific principles, Hong Kong adjusted its epidemic measures according to time and local circumstances, as part of coordination efforts to reconnect to the world and the mainland. The State Council has been and will continue to provide necessary, fundamental support for Hong Kong according to its needs.”
The senior health official was underlining Beijing’s backing for local pandemic measures amid an increasing daily coronavirus tally on the mainland despite stringent controls and a zero-Covid approach.
On Wednesday, China reported 8,176 local infections, a sharp rise from the end of last month when some 1,000 daily cases were confirmed. Hong Kong separately logged 5,068 cases, 498 of which were imported, as well as 13 new deaths.
In Cao’s keynote speech at the summit, he touted mainland efforts in “guarding the bottom line” of preventing large-scale outbreaks despite the Covid-19 resurgence placing huge pressure on mainland healthcare systems.
He also hailed Hong Kong’s “precise” pandemic control approach that protected lives and minimised the impact on the local economy and livelihoods.
In the long run, Cao said, Beijing would continue to support Hong Kong to facilitate cross-border exchanges of medical professionals, as well as explore how the city could better contribute to the country’s healthcare blueprint.
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Both Cao and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu were speaking at the two-day Asia Summit on Global Health, co-organised by the city government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), featuring some 80 speakers locally and internationally.
Addressing an audience of officials, medical experts and investors, Lee gave assurances the local government would continue to seek room to relax social-distancing and travel curbs in an “orderly and progressive manner”, after making “substantive progress” in doing so.
“We’re working on specific and dedicated plans to ensure major events and economic activities can be held smoothly to open up Hong Kong to bring a world of business back as quickly and as safely as we can,” he said in his opening remarks.
The chief executive cited the recent high-level bankers’ summit and FinTech Week, attended by more than 200 financiers from 120 global firms, as well as the global health summit and the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament which had returned “in a blaze of blessed glory” with 65,000 revellers over the weekend.
The events had marked Hong Kong’s efforts to regain its footing on the international stage after nearly three years of isolation from the rest of the world amid the pandemic.
Lee said Covid-19 had “wreaked havoc” on humanity and “shaken” economies, businesses and communities, stressing that uncertainties brought on by the pandemic still existed worldwide, while diseases such as monkeypox and melioidosis continued to pose threats to public health.
“The development of public health, thus, indeed warrants a new course in health care for humanity,” he said, stressing “the importance of collaboration at every level”.
“More than just a slogan, the theme of today’s summit – collaboration – should serve as a pivotal strategy, the road to take if we are to move with speed and certainty into recovery, and make our way towards a flourishing future.”
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Lee also pledged to promote innovation in public health, maintain sustainable competitiveness by attracting talent and overseas companies, as well as reform the system with a focus on primary healthcare.
Thursday’s event was held alongside the HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, which runs in a hybrid format. The physical event will last till Saturday, while exhibitors and buyers can connect on a digital platform.
More from South China Morning Post:
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