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US Bankers, Others Left Stranded As Hong Kong Shuts Flights – Media

Editorial Staff

14 January 2022

Bank executives at report noted, the flight restrictions add to a difficult environment in what had been a relatively liberal city, an important entrepôt for mainland China. Many global banks have Asian headquarters in Hong Kong.

Officials are tightening controls to prevent the Omicron variant from spreading as part of China’s zero-COVID strategy. Earlier in January, flights from the UK and US to Hong Kong were banned for a fortnight from January 8. The situation raises questions over whether Beijing’s zero-COVID policy is wise, particularly as rival hubs such as London, Singapore and Dubai are seeking to live with the virus, albeit with heavy restrictions in some cases.