Can We Meet Up for Qixi? Hong Kong’s Health Secretary Hopes for a Border Re‑Open
Who’s the Speaker?
On Sunday, July 4, Lo Chung‑mau—Hong Kong’s newest Health Secretary—slid into the panorama of the city’s Health Bureau blog with a hopeful, almost sentimental, pledge: “I wish the pandemic would buckle down so that families across the border can reunite for Qixi on August 4.” That’s the “Chinese Valentine’s Day,” so think extra love, maybe some fireworks, and a lot of wishes for people to share a hug.
Why Qixi, Why August 4?
Lo’s timing is tight: the border between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is currently locked, and people who have longer cousins, children, or girlfriends on the other side get stuck with inboxes full of “thinking of you” memes across mahjong tiles of their only social media channel. The aim? Get them together before the festival where mooncakes are exchanged like secret love notes.
What’s Happening on the Mainland Side?
- China slashed the quarantine requirement last week from 14 to 7 days in centrally‑managed hotels, then an additional 3 days of self‑monitoring.
- Despite that, Hong Kong‑to‑Shenzhen travel still feels like a post‑pandemic barbecue with an extra layer of ribs: booking bus seats, clearing customs, and securing a slot in those new, shorter “quarantine hotels.”
- Lo noted the sweeter side: fewer days means a surge in demand for Shenzhen hotels, turning the frontier into a hot‑pot of anticipation.
“If We Can Join Hands, That’s the Best News”—Public Feelings
- Some Weibo speakers warned: “We can’t pull open the gate that easily… The virus is still a party crasher.” They feared an off‑balance spike could send mainland China back to sigmoid shutdowns.
- Others cheered, thinking, “If this works, it’s a champion of the year!” From Guangdong to Hong Kong, folks were ready to picture friends, family, and even a pet parrot discussing Qixi in a side-by-side breakfast.
When Could Things Actually Open?
Lo’s own metrics suggest a delayed game‑plan: border openings hinge on local infection curves and a cut in community spread, as reflected by Monday’s daily tally—1,645 local and 196 imported cases. That’s a chunky scenario for any border‑reopening bet.
So, Will We Finally Get to Celebrate?
That’s the million‑dollar question replaced with a humble checkmark on an email: Will the signpost for Qixi go up before August 4? For now, we’ll keep our fingers crossed, our hearts pumping, and maybe a few more mooncakes ready for the celebration that might just be the next big thing Hong Kong and Shenzhen can claim together.
