“Some students still feel embarrassed,” said Ching Chi-cheung, principal of the school. “It has been a long while since they showed their faces to their peers.”

Elsewhere in east Asia, people have also continued to wear masks.

Japan, which never imposed an official mask mandate, eased guidelines on masks from March 13, including for schools and public transport except during rush hour, when face coverings were still recommended but not enforced.

A poll conducted by Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun last month found 60 per cent of respondents said they “want to wear it as much as possible”, while only 34 per cent said they “don’t want to wear it as much as possible”. Masks remain visible on the streets and elsewhere.

Mask use was prevalent in the region long before the Covid pandemic. During the spring in South Korea, the government encourages mask wearing to prevent respiratory problems from thick yellow dust that seasonally blows in from the Chinese desert.

Some mask retailers in Hong Kong advertised sales this week and flagged plans to reduce their number of stores.

Jeffrey Lam, an adviser to Hong Kong’s leader who started a local mask factory during the pandemic, said he expected enough demand to keep his machines running, albeit at a slower pace.

“We have completed our historical task, but we are not in any urgency to shut it down,” Lam said. “There were quite a few people who caught a flu recently and some people feel it’s healthier [to wear a mask].”

Ah Miu, a stall operator in his 50s, said he was not afraid of catching Covid again but added that he felt “insecure” not wearing a mask.

“It’s like trying to quit smoking,” he said. “It’s an addiction that you don’t just walk away from. It takes time, right?”

This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Primrose Riordan

Conceived in 1976 as a vehicle for cigarette advertising, the Sevens tournament has evolved into a rollercoaster weekend of corporate events, financial industry networking and wild boozing in fancy dress. It will return in November for the first time since 2019, after being suspended for two years by the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is really all about getting Hong Kong moving again,” said Robbie McRobbie, Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive. “And an opportunity to demonstrate that Hong Kong can still throw a good party.”

While Standard Chartered and HSBC, which make the bulk of their income in Hong Kong, are sending their chief executives Bill Winters and Noel Quinn to the financial forum, other organisations are sending Asia-Pacific leaders. Deutsche Bank’s Asia head Alexander von zur Muehlen, for instance, will represent the bank.

Bankers will be flocking to Hong Kong Stadium for rugby entertainment, too. In previous years, brokerage CLSA’s corporate box was notorious for risqué themes, Deutsche Bank had a walk-in ice bar stocked with vodka and Lan Kwai Fong was invaded by tipsy Teletubbies.

This year, however, ordinary fans will not be served food and must wear masks during matches except when drinking.

“There have been lots of headaches around the rule of eating and drinking, and the number of people allowed in boxes,” a person familiar with arrangements said. “But I think all the gremlins will the ironed out and everyone will want to come.”

This article has been amended to reflect John Lee’s latest comments

This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Primrose Riordan