Singapore
By Ian Cheng 26 Apr 2021 11:30AM (Updated: 26 Apr 2021 11:34AM )
SINGAPORE: Singapore and Hong Kong have agreed to set May 26 as the launch date of the travel bubble between the two cities, Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Monday (Apr 26).
Both cities have reviewed the arrangements and made several improvements to the agreement, said the ministry. This includes stricter conditions for the resumption of the travel bubble, should it be suspended due to new COVID-19 community clusters in either city.
The travel bubble was originally scheduled to begin in November last year, but was deferred due to a spike in infections in Hong Kong .
"The COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong has improved, with very few local unlinked COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. Community cases in Singapore remained very low throughout the time," said MOT.
"The risk profiles of both cities are therefore now similar."
Both cities will closely monitor the COVID-19 situation from now to May 26, and will proceed with the launch "if the situation continues to be steady and under control in both cities", the ministry said.
TRAVEL BUBBLE TO BEGIN "CAUTIOUSLY"
The Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble will begin "cautiously", with one flight a day in each direction, said MOT.
Each flight will have a cap of 200 passengers, with the numbers reviewed after the first two weeks.
Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said the travel bubble is a significant move between two aviation and financial services hubs in Asia.
"I am happy that Hong Kong got the COVID-19 situation under control," he said.
"It has been a long few months, but the conditions are now ripe again to re-launch the ATB (air travel bubble). Both sides will need to stay very vigilant in the next one month, so that we can launch the first flights smoothly."
Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau said that the two governments have reached a consensus on the latest travel bubble arrangements, and will put in place more stringent public health protocols in response to the latest COVID-19 development.
"Our goal remains striking a right balance between public health and travel convenience so that the public will feel assured while providing certainty," said Mr Yau.
"The re-launch of ATB not only meets the aspirations of the people and business communities on cross-border travel, but also signifies that gradual resumption of cross-border travel is achievable through mutual collaborations among different places.
"We will continue to maintain communication with the Singapore Government and closely monitor the epidemic development of both places to ensure the smooth launch of ATB," he said.
This story is developing.
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Source: CNA/ic(cy)
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Singapore, Hong Kong to relaunch travel bubble on May 26
Composite image of the skylines of Hong Kong (left) and Singapore. (Photo: Usplash/Ruslan Bardash and Reuters/Edgar Su)By Ian Cheng 26 Apr 2021 11:30AM (Updated: 26 Apr 2021 11:34AM )
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SINGAPORE: Singapore and Hong Kong have agreed to set May 26 as the launch date of the travel bubble between the two cities, Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Monday (Apr 26).
Both cities have reviewed the arrangements and made several improvements to the agreement, said the ministry. This includes stricter conditions for the resumption of the travel bubble, should it be suspended due to new COVID-19 community clusters in either city.
The travel bubble was originally scheduled to begin in November last year, but was deferred due to a spike in infections in Hong Kong .
"The COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong has improved, with very few local unlinked COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks. Community cases in Singapore remained very low throughout the time," said MOT.
"The risk profiles of both cities are therefore now similar."
Both cities will closely monitor the COVID-19 situation from now to May 26, and will proceed with the launch "if the situation continues to be steady and under control in both cities", the ministry said.
TRAVEL BUBBLE TO BEGIN "CAUTIOUSLY"
The Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble will begin "cautiously", with one flight a day in each direction, said MOT.
Each flight will have a cap of 200 passengers, with the numbers reviewed after the first two weeks.
Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said the travel bubble is a significant move between two aviation and financial services hubs in Asia.
"I am happy that Hong Kong got the COVID-19 situation under control," he said.
"It has been a long few months, but the conditions are now ripe again to re-launch the ATB (air travel bubble). Both sides will need to stay very vigilant in the next one month, so that we can launch the first flights smoothly."
Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau said that the two governments have reached a consensus on the latest travel bubble arrangements, and will put in place more stringent public health protocols in response to the latest COVID-19 development.
"Our goal remains striking a right balance between public health and travel convenience so that the public will feel assured while providing certainty," said Mr Yau.
"The re-launch of ATB not only meets the aspirations of the people and business communities on cross-border travel, but also signifies that gradual resumption of cross-border travel is achievable through mutual collaborations among different places.
"We will continue to maintain communication with the Singapore Government and closely monitor the epidemic development of both places to ensure the smooth launch of ATB," he said.
This story is developing.
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Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Source: CNA/ic(cy)
Continue reading...