The Jetfoil Conservation Concern Group has urged the governments of the two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) to resume the activity of the Hong Kong-Macau ferry routes, group leader Anderson Cheong told the Times.
According to Cheong, the group has written to the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR government to suggest the bureaus “consider reopening both the Hong Kong-
Macau Ferry Terminal and China Ferry Terminal for pre-departure quarantine, to cope with the rising number of travelers, to save the cross-border ferry industry from the almost three-year halt and prepare for upcoming recovery.”
In the same statement, the group noted the normal connection between Hong Kong, the mainland and Macau has been suspended for almost three years, which has resulted in family separation and job loss for those working in the maritime transportation industry.
“Although there have been rumors or plans to reopen the borders between the two places [Hong Kong and Macau], this plan was never executed. Hong Kong is now opened to the outside world but ironically, remains isolated from mainland and Macau despite their much closer relationship with Hong Kong.” The group added that, among the many people and industries affected by the border restrictions imposed, “the cross-border ferry industry was hit the hardest,” leading to the ferry companies “to lay off many employees and scrap or sell a large number of ferries.”
The group noted the new government from the neighboring region, led by the new Chief Executive John Lee, “has been delivering its promises to resume cross-border travel to both the mainland and foreign countries [as well as] removing quarantine of foreign inbound travelers [which] has won the hearts of global finance leaders.”
The group added, “On the other hand, the pre-departure quarantine proposal, which means quarantine in Hong Kong to then enter the mainland, is under preparation according to various reports. Currently, the number of travelers from Hong Kong to the mainland or Macau is limited by the quarantine facilities on both sides. It is widely believed that pre-departure quarantine would recover the travel to and from both destinations.”
The group noted that airlines in the neighboring regions are resuming most of the flights and recruiting new staff and crew members due to the easing of restrictions. The group hopes the solution proposed could also help the ferry industry and provide a travel alternative for those residing in the three regions, helping the “society to walk one small step away from the epidemic.”
