Hong Kong should ease its last coronavirus curbs based on its own epidemic situation, local medical experts have said ahead of a meeting of the World Health Organization to discuss whether Covid-19 should still be considered a global emergency.

Speaking before the international body’s emergency committee meeting on Friday, the health experts also considered whether the government should soon begin a review of its handling of the epidemic or wait until a later date.

“If the WHO says Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency of international concern, many government officials, both Hong Kong and overseas, could also take a more relaxed approach towards policy decisions,” Professor David Hui Shu-cheong of Chinese University said on Thursday.

But the government pandemic adviser also said the city’s epidemic situation should determine what restrictions remained in place.

Citing the mask mandate as an example, Hui said the policy could be revised after winter to cover public transport, healthcare facilities and care homes instead of most public spaces.