Hong Kong will scrap its COVID-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals from Monday, September 26, more than two and a half years after it was first implemented, in a long-awaited move for many residents and businesses in the financial hub.
As of Monday, September 26, international arrivals will be able to return home or to the accommodation of their choice but will still have to self-monitor for three days after entering Hong Kong.
This means that they will be allowed to go to work or school but will not be allowed to enter bars or restaurants for the three-day period.
Incoming travellers will also no longer need a negative PCR test within 48 hours before boarding a plane to Hong Kong, the city’s chief executive John Lee said Friday at a news conference.
Instead, they will need to present a negative COVID-19 result from a clinic or self-administered rapid antigen test conducted within 24 hours before the flight.
They must also undergo several mandatory PCR tests, including one on arrival, as well as on their second, fourth and sixth days in Hong Kong, coupled with daily antigen rapid tests every day for their first week.
Hong Kong’s easing of travel curbs sparked a rush for flight bookings, with Cathay Pacific’s website “experiencing high traffic” after the announcement was made. Visitors to the site had to wait in a virtual queue to enter.
The former British colony is a global outlier outside mainland China in imposing hotel quarantine for international arrivals, in line with the country’s “dynamic zero” COVID strategy.
Japan announced it will fully reopen on October 11, and neighbouring Taiwan is expected to do the same next month. This leaves mainland China as one of the only places in the world that will still require travellers to quarantine on arrival.
The easing of measures comes as Hong Kong prepares to hold several high-profile events, including the Rugby Sevens tournament in November and an international banking summit.
Organisers said 10,000 Rugby Sevens tickets will go on sale to the public on September 28.
Find out more at discoverhongkong.com
Via AAP
