'Hong Kong US Chamber of Commerce Chairman Resigns Over Quarantine Policy Dissatisfaction'

Tara Joseph, President of the Hong Kong American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)
[Photo by AP]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The chairman of the Hong Kong American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) has announced his resignation in protest against Hong Kong's strict COVID-19 quarantine policies.

Tara Joseph, the AmCham chairman currently staying in the United States, stated to foreign media on the 17th, "I will not comply with the quarantine like a puppet (of the Hong Kong government)."

Hong Kong mandates hotel quarantine for all arrivals for 14 to 21 days. In the case of the United States, it is 21 days.

Chairman Joseph has consistently appealed to the Hong Kong government to ease quarantine policies for AmCham members.

He said, "Hong Kong has moved to a new phase too quickly," adding, "Hong Kong now needs to approach those who do not reject such new standards and are looking for opportunities." He also mentioned, "I will maintain the chairman position for six months while a new chairman is being sought."

The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), however, claimed, "While the rejection of Joseph's request for quarantine exemption was one of the reasons for his resignation, it was not the decisive cause."

Meanwhile, Jamie Dimon, chairman of the United States' largest bank JP Morgan Chase, was granted a quarantine exemption. Dimon, the first Wall Street bank chief to visit Hong Kong since the COVID-19 outbreak, stayed for 32 hours from the 15th to the 16th before departing for the United Kingdom.

The Hong Kong government stated that Dimon's visit was considered beneficial to the country's economic development, thus an exception was applied. JP Morgan established a company with 100% foreign ownership in mainland China for the first time in August.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.