For all the foreign businessmen, chambers of commerce and international companies hoping to a reopening of Hong KongThe news came as a cold shower. But in the end, it came as no surprise.
Since Hong Kong was brought to heel by the People's Republic of China and its political autonomy all but disappeared, Beijing continues to isolate the metropolis of southern China. Or at least disconnecting it from its links with the rest of the world.
The Covid pandemic provides a formidable justification for China to restrict movements to and from the former British colony.. This is despite Hong Kong's ability to control the pandemic on its territory. As of 30 October, Hong Kong had recorded 12,343 cases of Covid-19 infection and 213 deaths. Remarkable figures for a territory of 7 million inhabitants. There were 11 times fewer cases than in Singapore (187,851 infections on the same date and 364 deaths).
The closure of Hong Kong makes Singapore happy
The comparison with Singapore is all the more interesting given that the two cities have a similar position in Asia: two independent financial centres for two metropolises living independently. On the other hand, the management of the epidemic led to diametrically opposed policies for reopening to the outside world.
While Singapore finally acknowledged in September that its economy and prosperity remained dependent on its links with the outside world, the opposite is true in Hong Kong. While Singapore is gradually loosening its grip by allowing international visitors into its territory, Hong Kong is doing exactly the opposite.
The city pursues a "zero Covid" policy and decided to give a further tightening of isolation measures for foreign travellers. Measures already considered among the toughest in the world. Any foreigner or non-Hong Kong resident must therefore isolate themselves 21 days in quarantine in establishments designated by the government. These establishments are more like prisons with an absolute ban on leaving than a holiday resort.
Until now, however, Hong Kong has offered a privileged few - diplomats, VIPs, business leaders - the possibility of a reduced or home-based quarantine. But if Chief Executive Carrie Lam is to be believed, this will soon be a thing of the past.
Hong Kong and China: the same battle
The latter has just indicated that his government's priority was to reopen its borders, first and foremost with China. And this, despite warnings from the city's financial and business community who speaks of economic suicide. As a result, we are witnessing exodus of companies and expatriates for several months now. Who are moving to Singapore or even Tokyo.
The policy of opening up Hong Kong therefore seems to be decided in Beijing. And the priority is to put the metropolis under total control. Even if it means stripping it of its economic quintessence: its openness to the world.
China which, by the way, does not seem to have the slightest inclination to reopen. to the rest of the world. We saw this with the recent decision not to allow foreigners to attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
In a recent article, the Financial Times quoted a Chinese source as saying that the Chinese government had no plans to reopen its borders to foreign travellers before November 2022the date of a major congress of the Communist Party...
