Regina Ip says she thinks the amber health code requirement for incoming travellers will be dropped next month, in light of a falling number of Covid infections and hospitalisations.

The amber code bans people from going to restaurants, bars and a range of other places for the first three days following their arrival in the territory.

Ip said she hopes this requirement will be scrapped in October.

The Executive Council convenor and New People's Party legislator stressed, however, that this is only her personal opinion.

She added that if scientific data supports a relaxation of social distancing rules, authorities should promptly ease restrictions on catering businesses – one of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic.

She noted that the sector would like the government to consider allowing more than 120 people to join a banquet and more than eight people to sit together in a restaurant.

Ip also dismissed concerns that international businesses have been moving out of the SAR over the past two years due to Covid rules.

Only an extremely small number of international businesses are gone for good, she said.