Developing | Coronavirus: Diamond Princess misery continues for Hongkongers as second evacuation delayed, while number of infected city passengers soars to 65
- Ten more local infections on coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess, while rival governments compete for flight slots
- Second airlift for cleared Hong Kong passengers pushed back to Friday after passengers told it would leave on Thursday
The cruise ship ordeal for about 150 Hongkongers stuck in Japan was set to continue into Friday night, as rival governments competed for airlift slots and the number of locals infected with Covid-19 on the Diamond Princess jumped by 10 on Thursday to 65.
Officials said their plan to evacuate more residents on Thursday night had to be abandoned when Tokyo said another territory had priority, confirming an earlier Post report that the second flight would be delayed.
Immigration director Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said he hoped some of the stranded Hong Kong residents could return on a chartered flight as early as 6pm on Friday, but no later than midnight on Saturday. A third flight could depart on Saturday if required.
Those who are confirmed coronavirus patients and their close contacts would have to stay behind.
The first specially arranged flight for those cleared to leave the Diamond Princess cruise liner touched down on Lantau Island on Thursday morning, repatriating 106 Hongkongers who are now under 14-day quarantine in a housing estate.
Tsang said the Immigration Department hoped the 30 or so close contacts of the 65 confirmed cases, which increased by 10 on Thursday, would be allowed to return to Hong Kong to see out the rest of their quarantine period.
He said a separate flight would be arranged for the close contacts because they were higher risk, with additional measures needed to protect cabin crew and public sector staff travelling with the group.
Infected passenger in ‘serious condition’
