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SINGAPORE – Singapore’s Consulate General in Hong Kong said on Thursday (September 10) that the Republic welcomes talks with Hong Kong on the gradual resumption of cross-border travel between the two parties.
He added that given the strong commercial and social ties between the two cities, the resumption of cross-border travel will benefit both.
The Consulate General said that with a low number of new community cases daily and one of the lowest Covid-19 death rates in the world, Singapore has the confidence to reopen its economy, albeit gradually and carefully.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Trade and Economic Development Edward Yau said the city had sent letters expressing interest in a “travel bubble” to 11 countries, including Singapore.
The territory is already in talks with Japan and Thailand about resuming travel.
Hong Kong’s leadership also announced on Tuesday the cautious relaxation of some social distancing rules in the territory as its third wave of coronavirus stabilizes.
Barring any spike in infections, the limit imposed on restaurants will be raised to four people per table for a week, from two current customers, starting Friday.
Sports facilities, amusement game centers and public entertainment venues will also reopen, their Food and Health Secretary Sophia Chan said Tuesday.
Singapore currently allows visitors from five countries, with a variety of restrictions in place.
On June 3, Singapore and China announced details of a “fast lane” or “green lane” agreement for travelers from both sides to fly to each other’s countries without serving a quarantine period of up to 14 days.
Singapore then reopened its borders with Malaysia under two schemes, the Reciprocal Green Lane and the Commuting Arrangement Newspaper, on August 17.
General travelers from New Zealand and Brunei began arriving in Singapore from Tuesday, while a reciprocal Green Lane with the latter was announced on 1 September.
On September 2, a “fast track” for essential commercial and official travel between Singapore and South Korea was announced.
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