【明報專訊】GOOD PROGRESS has been made in Hong Kong's fight against the pandemic of Covid-19, as the city has reported zero new confirmed cases for the fourth time in eight days. If there are no more unusual outbreaks of the disease in the coming week or so, a moderate relaxation of anti-pandemic measures at community level can be attempted. However, that must be executed at a cautious pace. As the coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented, nothing that has happened in the past can serve as a guide when we contemplate the loosening of anti-pandemic measures. While it may be relatively easy to ease restrictions internally, the easing of external restrictions is more complicated. Firstly, the pandemic outside Hong Kong is out of our control. Secondly, easing external restrictions requires talks and collaboration with other places. The social atmosphere in Hong Kong as it is, easing inbound quarantine requirements could become a highly politicised issue. Quarantine arrangements for people crossing the border from Hong Kong or the mainland should be reviewed in accordance with the trajectory of the pandemic on the mainland after the Labour Day holiday. They should be based on scientific principles and ample time should be allowed for the discussion concerned. Acting in haste should not be the way.