Hong Kong Scraps Hotel Quarantine For Inbound Travellers

HONG KONG – After over 2 years since implementing it, the Chinese territory’s government announced that it will remove mandatory quarantine for incoming travellers, reported CNN on Friday evening (23 September, SGT).

Under new rules that took effect on Monday (26 September), inbound travellers will just be required to self-monitor for 3 days upon arrival in Hong Kong.

The city’s authorities faced significant pressure from some public health officials and its business community, especially the banking sector, to relax its COVID-related measures, amid an exodus of talent, a severely impacted economy, and concerns that Hong Kong’s status as a major global financial hub is being eroded, while other countries like rival Singapore have already reopened.

During a media conference on Friday afternoon, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee stated that the Chinese territory’s COVID cases have stabilized, permitting for the removal of mandatory quarantine for inbound travellers.

“We hope to give the maximum room to reconnect Hong Kong, and to revitalize our economy.”

Inbound travellers will undergo their three days of self-monitoring at home or a place of their own choice. During this period, they are permitted to go outside but will be restricted from some places, like bars or restaurants.

Incoming travellers will no longer need to show a negative PCR test before boarding a plane. But they will need to provide a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) 24 hours before taking their flight to Hong Kong.

During the 3 days of self-monitoring, the arrivals will be tagged with an amber colour under Hong Kong’s digital health code, which will bar them from entering places, such as bars or restaurants.

Furthermore, they will need to undergo an RAT test every day for seven days after arrival. They also need to take PCR tests on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th day after arrival.