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The View | How safe international meetings can help Hong Kong achieve an economic reset
- Hong Kong has managed the logistics of holding a major international art fair, book fair and industry conferences during the pandemic without seeing outbreaks
- Holding one or two premier events with visitors from low-risk locations will boost confidence and cement Hong Kong’s status as a hub for safe meetings
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Hong Kong has a small window of opportunity to position itself as a venue for safe regional and international gatherings in the post-pandemic world and gain a first-mover advantage over other Asian cities. Doing so will help Hong Kong solidify its reputation as a city open for business and facilitate economic and employment recovery in multiple sectors.
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Relaxation of border measures and preservation of public health have often been framed as a binary choice, but there is a need to strike a better balance. Universal mask-wearing and generally hygiene-conscious residents across all demographics have helped keep Hong Kong’s Covid-19 infections at bay.
Its infection and death rates have been among the lowest in the world for a sustained period of time. Vaccinations continue to be promoted through carrot-and-stick measures. Though the pandemic has largely stabilised locally, Hong Kong risks being stuck in a continuous stop-start, “wait and see” cycle that impedes a sustained economic recovery.
Prolonged travel restrictions and quarantine measures currently in place are meant to protect Hong Kong from imported Covid-19 cases, but they come at a heavy cost. They risk discouraging vaccinations locally and making it harder for Hong Kong to reopen later. They could create a perception that Hong Kong is turning inward and isolating itself, rather than remaining a city interested in and ready for international business.
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Many regional and international meetings and conventions have been postponed, cancelled or moved to an online format because of pandemic measures that have inhibited international travel into Hong Kong.
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