Hong Kong is keen to restart international travel, said Financial Secretary

Hong Kong is open to tourists who have been in Mainland China, Taiwan or Macao for 14 days or more, plus vaccinated executives from international companies.

Travelers must also present confirmation in English or Chinese of a room reservation in a government-designated quarantine hotel for not less than 21 nights starting on the day of the arrival. They also must submit proof of a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test taken within 72 hours before departure. 

After highly-contagious variants of coronavirus were detected in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK travelers from those territories or who have been there for more than two hours in the 21 days prior to their trip to Hong Kong will be denied boarding. 

Since last December, visitors are no longer allowed to quarantine at home.

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Hong Kong reopening timeline – Latest updates

August 1 – Hong Kong is keen to restart international travel, said Financial Secretary

Hong Kong is willing to restart international travel with mainland China and the rest of the world, said Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.

The secretary also said that the reopening must be on a very cautious basis but did not give any official reopening date. 

For now, the government has postponed its plan to bring back double-vaccinated workers from high-risk countries fearing the initiative could risk its so-called travel bubble, which has not started, with mainland China.

The government has not provided any details about the starting of its bubble either. 

Source: South China Morning Post

July 13 – Hong Kong to permit entry to fully vaccinated residents and workers under a new reopening scheme

Filipino Consul General Raly Tejada revealed on July 12 that Hong Kong authorities will lift some direct flight bans in order to allow fully vaccinated returning nationals and work visa holders to come back from “high-risk” countries. 

According to the consul, the government has created a plan to ease travel restrictions so these travelers will be allowed in under the first stage of the scheme. 

Manpower agencies estimate that more than 5,000 Filipino and Indonesian workers have not been able to enter Hong Kong since it closed its borders a year and a half ago.

Source: ABS-CBN News

Entry Restrictions and Requirements

to be eligible to travel through these “travel bubbles”, Commerce chief Edward Yau Tang-wah, considers that providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test before taking off and upon arrival will be needed.

However, he emphasized that the situation is and will keep changing because each destination may have different restrictions, meaning, this is not going to be the only requirement.

Who is currently allowed to enter Hong Kong?

• Visitors with Hong Kong residency, travelers that have not been outside China, Taiwan, and Macau in the past 14 days are permitted to enter Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong residents coming from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and China.
• U.S citizens are allowed if they comply with the requirements below. 
• Directors and senior executives of the 500 biggest companies in the world.

For more detailed information click here.

Documents travelers must submit at the airport

• Proof of a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test taken within 72 hours of the scheduled time of departure. 
• A hotel booking confirmation for not less than 21 days starting on the day of arrival in Hong Kong. 

Important! – The Hong Kong government provides free testing in public hospitals. Find more information about free testing here. 

COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong

As of August 1, the region has reported a total of 11,985 confirmed positive cases and 212 deaths.

Social activities allowed in Hong Kong during COVID-19

These are the social activities allowed in the territory.

• Cinemas, beauty parlors, fitness centers, sports premises, nightclubs and karaoke places have reopened under the “vaccine bubble” regulation.

Requirements to carry out social activities 

Face masks are mandatory on public transport carriers, in an MTR paid area, and indoor and outdoor public places. 

Check the Hong Kong government’s website for additional information.

Last but not least – Be aware of very strict enforcement of the rules!

• Violating the quarantine requirement is considered a criminal offense. Offenders can face imprisonment and a fine.
• Not wearing a mask where people are supposed to, will make them subject to an HKD 5,000 fine.

Hong Kong Reopening Tourism: Updates Archives

June 28 – Hong Kong to open a travel corridor with mainland China in July

Hong Kong and China’s authorities might resume flights for business people starting with the launch of a travel bubble with Guangdong (China), in July.

China, however, has expressed concerns about Hong Kong’s pandemic management abilities to keep the territory with “zero local infections” which is China’s main requirement. 

According to top respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan (China), the travel corridor might be open in July at a limited capacity “if conditions are met”.

Zhong also said Hong Kong has managed to prevent the spread of the new Delta variant thanks to their testing and tracking capacity. This means that the reopening date might be about to be announced. (Source).

June 14 – Hong Kong to extend travel restrictions through at least June 23 

Hong Kong has extended its international travel ban and other domestic restrictions through June 23 due to a mild surge in coronavirus cases. 

The ban on most non-resident international tourists will remain in place. Exceptions are possible for vaccinated senior executives of 500 pre-approved global companies if they meet some specific criteria. These travelers must take COVID-19 tests and adhere to approved itineraries. 

On the other hand, visitors from Macau, Taiwan, and mainland China can visit Hong Kong if they have not visited other places over the last 21 days. Those must agree to spend 14 days at a hotel quarantine facility before being granted entry.

Source: TimeOut

June 1 – Hong Kong to drop quarantine restrictions for vaccinated business executives from June 1

Everybody knows Hong Kong has one of the strictest quarantine policies in the world, -only if- you are not “rich and powerful” as thousands of very upset Hongkongners are saying now following the latest government announcement.

Last Friday, the country announced that vaccinated senior bankers won’t be required to quarantine upon arrival and right after that, it extended this generous invitation to vaccinated directors and senior executives of the 500 biggest companies in the world. 

Starting today, companies can ask for permission for their executives to visit and leave the country without quarantine restrictions, said Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau in a statement today.

(Source: Bloomberg)

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