(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government will announce detailed arrangements for the gradual relaxation of social distancing measures in the coming week, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said today.

Mrs Lam told a press conference that the three-day self-testing exercise, to conclude today, should not affect the planned relaxation.

“I can assure you that the relaxation in social distancing measures, announced on March 21 and will take place on April 21, is unlikely to be affected by the three-day rapid antigen test exercise because, by now, it is quite clear that the epidemic is trending down. Our starting position is not April 8. Our starting position was March 21.

“By and large, unless there is an exponential surge in cases, otherwise we will continue to implement the relaxation of the social distancing measures.

“But the relaxation will be gradual. It will be carried out in three stages over three months, in order to remove most of the social distancing measures that we have put in.”