Real-name Registration on LeaveHomeSafe App ‘Not Necessary,’ Says Health Chief

Real-name registration on the LeaveHomeSafe app isn’t in the government’s priorities right now, and that most people won’t be affected by the colour codes that will appear in it, Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said on Saturday, July 16.

Professor Lo said real-name registration won’t be necessary because authorities already know the involved COVID-19 patients and inbound travellers. These people will have red or yellow codes on their LeaveHomeSafe app, restricting them from high-risk places. 

“For the majority of the people, there is no need to have any change in the LeaveHomeSafe [app],” was quoted as saying by Radio Television Hong Kong.

He also said most people won’t be affected by the colour-code system since the app won’t have a tracking function.

“The red code is meant for those who have confirmed infections by the PCR test. [T]hese people, they should have their identity registered. In fact, by law, these people who are confirmed to have the COVID infection should stay at designated isolation areas, whether it’s a designated place or home isolation.”

“Whereas for the yellow code, we meant to use this not to increase the restriction, but to relieve the restriction imposed on our inbound travellers. With the yellow code, we will be able to identify them [more precisely] and to avoid them from getting into the high-risk areas, exposing the community to risk of infection. But at the same time, we will be able to perhaps reduce the designated hotel quarantine period.”