One query and one comment on this year's HK Sevens:
1. will overseas players, coaches etc want to come under the "closed loop" arrangement (even if they get exemption from all the risk of being sent to Penny's Bay)? (I'm assuming they cleared it with the IRB before making the announcement.)
2. will the suggestion by one commentator on SCMP that the South Stand be occupied by people wearing Winnie the Pooh costumes gain traction?
Well, yes and no.
Agree it implies the HK Government has no intention of opening the boarders before the tournament.
But holding large scale events like the Sevens (and pop concerts etc) makes a mockery of the idea that the relatively insignificant number of imported cases justifies any kind of quarantine.
I see this is a bullish indicator that HK is on track to reopen in November.
They're saying that the Sevens is going ahead in some form no matter what. They're planning for a 'closed loop', but of course they have to plan for the worst-case given that covid policies haven't changed yet.
I'm betting on a full 0+7 style reopening by November, and I see this as a signal that HK remains on track to do that. If the news today was that the Sevens was cancelled, I'd feel less confident about my bet.
You can't conclude from this news alone that HK will definitely reopen in November, but viewed together with other official statements and preparations (e.g. yellow code for LHS), it looks to me like that's still the plan. CX is ramping up flights starting in October, other events are planned in November including the much-vaunted banker's summit and other sports events, etc.
Remember that even special auntie said that she'd be a bit worried if HK was still closed by the end of the year.
Hopefully this is not all wishful thinking
What is “full” about a 0+7 reopening? It’s half arsed at best.
And say this is the future, are we saying that the rest of us can have our lives back? No more masks outdoors, no more scanning LHS/vaccine pass, no more testing notices, no more restrictions on BBQs? I’d be so surprised if that comes in 3-4 months.
And if not, then it’s hardly a “full” reopening is it? Just more signals that HK is no longer a global city. More incompetent delay tactics.
Well if you actually want to watch the games, they are part of the Commonwealth Games. If you have BBC i-Player, you should be able to watch the matches.
Not sure if you can watch them on Sky Sports.
Unfortunately I think that’s all it is.
Look at the amount of useless bureaucratic crap we still have to deal with when landing back in HK. There is no way they will shift from this to zero quarantine by Nov with their infamous snail paced policy changes. If we are lucky then it will be 4+3 or 0+7 or whatever BS their cannot minds can dream up.
Also, if they had any intention of opening up by Nov then why not tell us? It would be a massive needed morale booster for the whole of HK. They don’t because they have no intention of opening up. There will be some form of quarantine come 2023.
As far as keeping the players and staff confined to their hotel rooms and stadium as per the article - what an utter farce. I hope every team tells them to go get f****d.