Hong Kong Suggests Reopening Travel Bubble With S’pore; S’pore “Studying” Proposal Before Responding

Hong Kong Disneyland enthusiasts, rejoice! There finally seems to be some light at the end of this dark COVID-19 tunnel, and perhaps our passports will finally see the light of day once again. 

Hong Kong has reached out proposing the reopening of a travel bubble with Singapore. 

According to Singapore’s Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung, Singapore is currently studying Hong Kong’s proposal for such a travel bubble. 

Here’s all that you need to know. 

Hong Kong Suggests Reopening Travel Bubble With S’pore; S’pore “Studying” Proposal Before Responding

You may remember that the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble was supposed to be launched in November 2020, but in the end it had to be postponed due to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. 

It was delayed to early December at first, but then later pushed back even further to 2021, with no definite start date in sight. 

But now, it seems like they’re ready to begin making arrangements for a travel bubble again. 

Mr Ong said, “We are very happy that Hong Kong has in recent weeks kept the pandemic under good control. This is a very positive development.” 

He said that a proposal from Hong Kong for the safe reopening of borders has been received and is currently being studied by Singapore. He also said that Singapore “will be responding to Hong Kong shortly”. 

Of course, with any steps taken towards safe reopening, there are conditions that have to be satisfied first. 

Firstly, in order for Hong Kong’s travel bubble with Singapore to be resumed, COVID-19 tests have to be carried out before departure and after landing. 

Additionally, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau stated that “vaccination will be a requirement” in order for travel bubble arrangements to be made, explaining that Hong Kong is now able to vaccinate the entirety of its population. 

“This is for our own protection. I believe that will be the trend around the world in the long run.”

Singapore Travel Bubble with Australia? 

A travel bubble between Singapore and Australia was proposed months ago. 

Due to the low number of cases, a travel bubble between the two countries could actually work.

However, domestic issues in Australia have eliminated the possibility of such a travel bubble with Singapore. 

Australian states have closed internal borders several times, even if only a few local cases had surfaced. 

There remains the risk of internal borders closing once again, which will make the opening of a travel bubble difficult to realise. 

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