Hong Kong requests Japan to reverse COVID flight restrictions

Hong Kong authorities have asked Japan to remove restrictions on direct flights from the city following the mainland’s explosion of coronavirus cases.

Officials from Hong Kong's transportation department said it was "greatly disappointed by Japan’s hasty decision during the peak tourist season".

The department said it had contacted the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong to request a reversal of the decision, which takes effect from Friday.

The affected airlines have been told they can still fly empty planes to the restricted airports to pick up any stranded passengers in the coming days.

They include restricting direct flights from Hong Kong to four airports -- Tokyo's Narita and Haneda, Kansai in Osaka, and Nagoya's Chubu.

Japan became among the first countries to impose China-specific travel restrictions as infections surged across the mainland this week, following the dismantling of Beijing's zero-COVID strategy.