Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble to be delayed for two weeks

Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble to be delayed for two weeks

Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau speaks to the media on a two-week postponement of the travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore, which is due to launch Sunday, following a rise in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Hong Kong, China November 21, 2020. REUTERS/Joyce Zhou

HONG KONG (Reuters) - A travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore, due to launch on Sunday, will be postponed for two weeks, Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development said on Saturday as the city reported a rise in daily coronavirus cases.

The travel bubble, which allows people to travel between the two cities without observing quarantine, will be revisited in early December, Edward Yau told media. "Today's decision is a responsible decision," he said.

The suspension comes as the Asian financial hub reported 43 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, the highest daily toll in nearly three months. It is also facing more than 60 preliminary cases.

(Reporting by Joyze Zhou, Julie Zhu and Twinnie Siu. Editing by Lincoln Feast)