The pro-Beijing lawmaker stood a row behind Xi, photos from the day showed. Ho said he tested slightly positive on Friday and had to be retested. He did not attend any of the handover anniversary celebrations that day, according to a statement on his official Facebook page. He then tested positive for the virus on Sunday. The fact that someone who came into contact with Xi has tested positive for the virus will be seen as a blow to the Hong Kong administration, which has spent a lot of time and resources preparing for the visit and trying to ensure it remains Covid-free. The border between Hong Kong and mainland China remains largely closed due to the virus. Ahead of his visit, hundreds of Hong Kong officials and lawmakers were forced into a “closed-loop” system to prevent any further spread of the virus. They were only allowed to travel between home and work in a private vehicle and were forced to spend a night in a quarantined hotel on the eve of the anniversary of the surrender. They were also subjected to daily tests. Xi, who has not traveled outside mainland China since the start of the pandemic more than two years ago, spent Thursday and Friday in Hong Kong. He attended the anniversary events and the swearing-in ceremony of Hong Kong’s new leader appointed by Beijing, former security chief and police officer John Lee. Concerns about the visit began to surface last week, even before the trip was officially confirmed, when two top Hong Kong officials tested positive for Covid-19. China is isolated in the world in its approach to Covid-19 as it continues to pursue a zero-tolerance approach that critics say is rooted more in political ideology than science. Xi himself has imposed a strict “zero Covid” policy in China, with state media often reporting that he “personally ordered and made arrangements” for the country’s fight against the pandemic. Despite high vaccination rates and a decline in overall cases, the Hong Kong government remains committed to its own “zero Covid” policy, adhering to strict social distancing and contact tracing measures, as well as strict border restrictions — including a mandatory seven-day hotel quarantine for all arrivals. CNN’s Jessie Yeung and Kathleen Magramo contributed reporting.
