Opinion | With masks off and shows on, Hong Kong is back on track

Last week’s lifting of the mask mandate brought a palpable and collective sigh of relief that is still reverberating through the community. After almost three years, its removal was the signal we needed to confirm that our lives can begin to get back to normal, or at least the new normal. Economic recovery is definitely in sight.

The timely news coincided with a host of world-class international events in Hong Kong this month alone, which will support economic recovery and stimulate growth.

Since the announcement, a significant number of people have clearly chosen to continue to wear masks, not only in crowded indoor locations but also on the street and in the countryside. This reflects the fears of those most vulnerable but also suggests an understanding that, in certain circumstances, wearing a mask can prevent the spread of infection. For some people, it is simply a sign of consideration, and in Japanese society, it has been commonplace since the 1918 Spanish flu.

I was made acutely aware of this on a recent trip to Tokyo where masks were not mandatory. Early one morning, as I was going to use my hotel gym, I was told politely but firmly that I needed to wear a mask if I wished to enter, which of course I did.

That same afternoon, I saw a tourist denied access to a shopping boutique in Ginza – she did not have a mask on her. Clearly, attitudes differ according to customs, or in our case, past experience. The stance taken in Europe or the United States, for example, is very different.

The busy programme will help restore confidence and signal to the international community that the days of Covid-19 restrictions are over. The return of international visitors is a key economic driver and will help us regain our title as “Asia’s world city”.