HONG KONG – Hong Kong authorities said on Wednesday it would lift some coronavirus curbs, but the fireworks display marking the national day of China on October 1 stands cancelled for the second consecutive year.
Pro-democracy agitations last year made it difficult for the event to be held and one protester was shot with live bullets by the police during a violent confrontation.
“In response to the latest situation of the COVID-19 epidemic, the National Day fireworks … will be cancelled,” the government said. The pyrotechnic display usually takes place near Victoria Harbour.
Although the protests on the streets seem to be on the wane, the anti-government and anti-Beijing sentiments are still strong and China’s offer of mass coronavirus screening for residents of the city has met with calls for a boycott.
With the restriction of curbs, amusement centres, massage parlours and gyms will reopen on Friday and eateries can stay open for an extra hour beyond the current limit of 9 pm. This comes as daily new infections have dropped to single digits.
But the ban on gatherings of more than two still remains, said Health Secretary Sophia Chan.