Exco member calls for ‘Greater Bay business bubbles’

Executive councillor Jeffrey Lam says the government should seek to set up “business travel bubbles” with Greater Bay cities as an incentive for people to receive the Covid-19 vaccines.

Speaking on an RTHK programme on Monday, Lam said the government should ask the central authorities to allow up to 1,000 vaccinated people per week to enter cities in the Greater Bay Area for business purposes without having to be quarantined.

But he said as a precaution, they must travel “point-to-point” in private vehicles and cannot take public transports to avoid cross-infection.

Lam added the government could also use the HK$5,000 electronic voucher scheme proposed in the budget to encourage people to get a jab, by handing out the sum in one go – instead of in instalments – to those who have been vaccinated.

Lam, who’s also a Business and Professionals Alliance legislator, said the business sector had also told him they would like to chip in and help boost vaccination rate by giving out discounts to those who’ve been inoculated.

He said some hotels, restaurants, theme parks, shopping malls and movie theatres already told him they are willing to take part.

“Everyone must contribute to anti-epidemic work. So, we hope the proposed discounts would encourage more people. If we could be of any help, we are more than happy to do so,” said Lam.

But a caller to the same radio programme, who identified herself as Ms Chan, said only the reopening of the border with the mainland would make her get a vaccine.

“People are scared of the side effects of vaccines, and the fear is bigger than the incentives. It’s hard to make a living in Hong Kong and they are worried about not being able to work. But if we can reopen the border with the mainland, so people can go to work or visit their families, I think it would be the biggest incentive,” she said.