Patrons sit outside restaurants on a street in Hong Kong on Sept 21, 2022. (PETER PARKS / AFP)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce has called on city Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to further relax or to lift cross-border travel restrictions when he delivers his upcoming Policy Address, as local companies’ business has been hampered by the city’s long-standing quarantine measures.

According to the latest survey released by the chamber on Monday, about 38 percent of the companies have cut or are planning to reduce their business in Hong Kong, and 86 percent of the respondents say that the city’s quarantine requirements have had a great impact on their operations, hindering face-to-face communication with customers and their respective new business developments.

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The chamber interviewed 395 businesses, about half being small and medium-sized enterprises, and large enterprises the other half.

Monday’s relaxation to the “0+3” system will inevitably lead to more outbound travel by Hong Kong people, thereby somewhat hampering local consumption

Betty Yuen So Siu-mai, Chairwoman, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce 

The survey was conducted May 24-31 this year, when inbound travelers entering Hong Kong were still subject to hotel quarantine — a requirement that was lifted on Monday.

A number of consultation sessions were held in August to collect views from members, and the survey results remain largely unchanged, chamber CEO George Leung Siu-kay said. He stressed that restoring cross-border travel was the key to retaining businesses.

Hong Kong officials announced on Friday that the hotel quarantine for inbound travelers would end, and that effective the following Monday, tourists and returning residents would not have to be quarantined at designated hotels.

Those arriving are now allowed to go to their offices and take public transportation, but are not permitted to go to restaurants and bars during their first three days in the city.

Leung said he expects the authorities to review the pandemic prevention requirements and increase the number of people allowed to gather publicly and the operating hours of businesses to facilitate large-scale events.

Chamber Chairwoman Betty Yuen So Siu-mai said that Monday’s relaxation to the “0+3” system will inevitably lead to more outbound travel by Hong Kong people, thereby somewhat hampering local consumption.

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However, she believes that the impact will be temporary, as the easing of travel restrictions will boost employment and business confidence in the future and stimulate local economic activity in the long term.

In response to the special administrative region government’s Policy Address next month, the chamber also presented a number of suggestions, including emphasizing the need for unconditional cross-border travel, the introduction of preferential policies to retain imported and local talent, as well as the re-establishment of Hong Kong’s status as a tourist destination.

Contact the writer at suzihan@chinadailyhk.com