Hong Kong International Airport (Image source: Hong Kong Information Department)
[See China News on October 8, 2021]Hong KongEuropean Chamber of CommerceIt was stated on October 6 that a number of European companies were considering withdrawing from Hong Kong and reorganizing their businesses in other countries because Hong Kong was inCovid-19 preventionIn terms of policy, the CCP’s “Cleared“Strategy has caused many companies to struggle.
According to a French report, the Hong Kong European Business Association represents companies from France, Germany, and Spain. The Chamber of Commerce pointed out that almost all other countries have given up on the “zero-clearing” strategy, but Hong Kong is still using this strict anti-epidemic measure, so many European companies are discussing the withdrawal of employees from Hong Kong.
Frederik Gollob, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, told the media that withdrawal from Hong Kong has become a topic of discussion on most corporate boards in Europe and Hong Kong. “You can’t really avoid it. Look at these restrictions,” he said. .
Golob also said that even if they did not completely withdraw from Hong Kong, many European companies are considering reorganizing at least part of their business to other Asian countries.
The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong issued a rare open letter to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam in August this year, warning that Hong Kong’s strict anti-epidemic measures have caused Hong Kong residents to suffer indefinitely and threaten Hong Kong’s status as an international business center. “The Hong Kong government has recently adopted stricter anti-epidemic measures against inbound tourists. This is not only disproportionate, but also a major step backward.” Golob, who represents 2,400 European companies in Hong Kong, said in the letter. The European Chamber of Commerce also recommended that the Hong Kong government accept coexistence with the Covid-19 virus, establish a clear exit strategy, and relax the isolation and quarantine measures for all vaccinated passengers.
The Hong Kong government did not directly reply to this open letter. However, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor recently publicly responded that the relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China is more important than those international companies that help consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an Asian financial center, and more important than Hong Kong’s connection with the global tourism industry.
On October 6, Carrie Lam’s annual “Policy Address”, although lightly mentioned the international business community’s concerns about cross-border travel, but hardly proposed any solutions for this.
Currently, residents returning to Hong Kong from overseas must be quarantined in hotels for 21 days even if they have been fully vaccinated against the new crown vaccine.
In addition to European companies considering withdrawing, earlier this year, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong also released a survey that showed that more than 40% of American companies are considering withdrawing from Hong Kong.
Editor in charge: Li Jiahong
Short URL of this article:
All rights reserved, any form of reprinting requires Chinese authorization. It is strictly forbidden to establish a mirror website.
[Honorary Member Wanted]Streams can merge into the sea, and small kindness can achieve great love. We sincerely recruit 10,000 honorary members from Chinese people around the world: each honorary member only needs to pay one subscription fee per year and become an honorary member of the “Watch China” website, which can help us break through the censorship and blockade and provide at least 10,000 mainland Chinese compatriots Provide independent and true key information to warn them in times of crisis and save them from the great plague and other social distress.
.