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• Outbound Travel Alert of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (Chinese only
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• Video on travel safety (Chinese only)

Travel Health Advice from the Department of Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and declared on March 11, 2020 that the COVID-19 outbreak can be described as a pandemic. Symptoms of COVID-19 are mainly fever and cough, while some patients presented with shortness of breath and were in serious condition. The global epidemic situation of COVID-19 still remains. The Department of Health advises travellers to complete COVID-19 vaccination before travel according to the latest recommendations to effectively protect against COVID-19 disease and maintain at all times strict personal and hand hygiene. Travellers should be aware of the latest situation of COVID-19 at the destination and any quarantine requirements upon entry to the travel destination. For Points to Note for Quarantine for Inbound Travellers into Hong Kong, please refer to: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html

For further details, please see:

• COVID-19 Thematic Website
• Countries/areas with reported cases of COVID-19
• World Health Organization COVID-19 situation reports

Since mid-May 2022, cases of mpox (also known as monkeypox) have been reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from different countries. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health draws the public's attention that an increasing number of confirmed mpox cases has been recorded in the Western Pacific Region recently. Following the latest advice from the WHO, persons suspected to have contracted mpox should avoid undertaking any travel.

Travellers planning to visit the affected areas should maintain good personal hygiene at all times and avoid close physical contact with sick persons or animals. Should there be any suspicious symptoms after returning to Hong Kong, travellers shall seek medical attention immediately and provide travel details to your doctors.

For details, please see:

• Mpox Thematic Webpage of the Department of Health
• List of Countries/areas Affected by Mpox
• Travel Health News on Mpox

The Department of Health advises travellers in the Middle East to avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry, and avoid unnecessary visit to healthcare facilities.

• Latest information issued by the Department of Health
• Latest announcements by the World Health Organization

The Travel Health Service website of the Port Health Office of the Department of Health provides the latest disease outbreak alerts at specific destinations.

For details, please visit:

• Travel Health News
• Destinations

Other Useful Links

• Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of Immigration Department
• Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health
• Travel Health Service of the Department of Health
• Hong Kong Observatory
• Tourism Commission
• Travel Industry Authority
• Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong
• Relevant Press Releases from Security Bureau
• Registration of Outbound Travel Information Service of Immigration Department

Related Matters

• Before travelling abroad, Individuals should understand clearly the arrangements of the outbound tour and the coverage of the insurance policy before entering into any contracts with or purchasing any products or services from the service providers or suppliers.
• HKRs who are abroad should pay attention to their personal safety. Those who need assistance may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the Immigration Department Mobile Application, send message to the 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline, send message to the 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form. For HKRs who are Chinese nationals, they may also call the 24-hour consular protection hotline (8610) 12308 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China or contact the Chinese Embassy/Chinese Consulate-General in their destination. The telephone numbers and addresses of the Chinese Embassies/Chinese Consulates-General overseas can be obtained from the Immigration Department (Tel: (852) 2824 6111) or Website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China .
• For health-related risks during outbound travel, please visit the relevant websites of the Department of Health http://www.travelhealth.gov.hk/eindex.html .

Important Reminder

Arrangements for inbound Persons- Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the current arrival arrangements for inbound persons? Please refer to this webpage .
• I am not vaccinated. Can I come to Hong Kong? The Government has lifted the vaccination requirement for all inbound persons coming to Hong Kong.
• What will happen to symptomatic inbound persons? All inbound persons must pass temperature checks upon arrival. Those found with symptoms will be referred to the Department of Health for further handling (such as transferring to public hospital for further management).
• What is the health advice for travellers? Maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times for personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. Meanwhile, outbound travellers should take heed of the health advice below: Complete COVID-19 vaccination before travel according to the latest recommendations to effectively protect against COVID-19 disease (For details on COVID-19 vaccination, please refer to thematic website for COVID-19 Vaccination Programme: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html ); Maintain strict personal and hand hygiene at all times when taking public transport or staying in crowded places; and If feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if experiencing respiratory symptoms, wear a well-fitted surgical mask and seek medical advice at once.
• Where can I obtain more information? Please visit the COVID-19 thematic website , designated page on inbound travel , the Centre for Health Protection webpage and the Facebook fan page of the Centre for Health Protection regularly for further information and updates.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Click here to view the thematic website of "COVID-19"

Click here to view the thematic web page of "COVID-19 Vaccination Programme"

Causative agent

“Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)” is the disease caused by a new coronavirus called “SARS-CoV-2”.

Clinical features

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, dry cough and fatigue. Other symptoms include loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, sore throat, headache, muscle or joint pain, skin rash, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, chills or dizziness. Some people may only have very mild or non-specific symptoms, while some may develop severe symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain or confusion.

Complications may include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and septic shock, thromboembolism, and/or multi-organ failure including injury of the heart, liver or kidneys. There are reports that children and adolescents with COVID-19 may develop a rare but serious condition known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), leading to multiorgan failure and shock.

People of older age and those having underlying medical problems (e.g. hypertension, heart and lung problems, diabetes, obesity or cancer) are at higher risk of developing serious illness.

According to the information from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10-20% of people may continue to experience mid- and long-term effects of COVID-19, which are collectively known as “Post COVID-19 condition,” or “Long COVID”. Common symptoms of long COVID include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, headache, pain (e.g. chest pain, joint pain) and may have an impact on everyday functioning. There may be multi-organ effects or autoimmune conditions particularly in children. Symptoms may be new onset following initial recovery from an acute COVID-19 episode or persist from the initial illness. Symptoms may also fluctuate (change from time to time) or relapse (return of symptoms after period of improvement) over time. Although it is still unclear how long the symptoms may last, current research suggests that patients can improve with time. Some studies reported that long COVID is found more often in people who had severe COVID-19 illness, but anyone (including those with mild illness) can experience this condition after infected with COVID-19. According to WHO, COVID-19 vaccination can reduce incidence of long COVID. Some studies also suggested vaccinated persons are less likely to develop long COVID even they get infected, compared to the unvaccinated.

For more information on long COVID, please press here .

Mode of transmission and incubation period

Mode of transmission includes through respiratory droplets, contact of contaminated surfaces or objects, short-range aerosol or short-range airborne transmission. The virus can also spread in poorly ventilated and/or crowded indoor settings. Most estimates of the incubation period range from 1 to 14 days, and some variants, such as the Omicron variant, may have even shorter incubation period of around 3 days.

Treatment includes supportive therapy, symptomatic treatment, antiviral agents and Chinese medicine.

COVID-19 vaccination

• COVID-19 vaccines are effective to protect people against COVID-19 disease, in particular severe illness and death.
• Vaccination is one of the most effective tools in the overall public health response to COVID-19. The combination of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) with vaccination will allow for maximum protection against the virus.
• With COVID-19 vaccines deployed, there is a need to continue NPIs, including good hand hygiene, to reduce the risk of virus transmission. NPIs should continue to be followed by vaccinated individuals, as well as those who have not yet been vaccinated.
• For details on COVID-19 vaccination, please refer to thematic web page for COVID-19 Vaccination Programme: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html

Health advice

Members of the public are also advised to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times for personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community:

• The wearing of mask is advised for the following situations - 
• any persons with fever or respiratory symptoms;
• any persons who are visiting or working in high risk places such as residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities, and clinical areas of healthcare facilities; and
• high risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised) who are going to crowded places such as public transport.
• when an increasing trend in activity of respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 virus is expected, high risk persons are recommended to wear a surgical mask when visiting public places, while the public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transportations or staying at crowded places.
• It is important to wear a mask properly, including hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask. For details on proper mask wearing, please visit CHP website at www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/use_mask_properly.pdf ;
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose before washing hands;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching one's mouth, nose or eyes; before eating; after using the toilet; after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs; or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. When the hands are cleaned, do not touch the water tap directly again (for example, using a paper towel to wrap the faucet before turn it off). If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80% alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Home should be cleaned thoroughly at least once per week with 1 in 99 diluted household bleach (mixing 10 ml of bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite with 990 ml of water), leave for 15 - 30 minutes and then rinse with water. For metallic surface, disinfect with 70% alcohol;
• If places are contaminated by respiratory secretions, vomitus or excreta, use strong absorbent disposable towels to clean up the visible matter. Then disinfect the surface and the neighbouring area with appropriate disinfectant. For nonmetallic surface, disinfect with 1 in 49 diluted household bleach (mixture of 10ml of household bleach containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution with 490ml of water), leave for 15 - 30 minutes, and then rinse with water. For metallic surface, disinfect with 70% alcohol;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a litre of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• Build up good body resistance and maintain healthy lifestyle. This can be achieved through balanced diet, regular exercise and adequate rest and
• Do not smoke and avoid alcohol consumption.

Travel advice

Travellers should take heed of the health advice below:

• Complete COVID-19 vaccination before travel according to the latest recommendations to effectively protect against COVID-19 disease (For details on COVID-19 vaccination, please refer to thematic web page for COVID-19 Vaccination Programme: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/106934.html ); and
• If feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if experiencing respiratory symptoms, wear a well-fitted surgical mask and seek medical advice at once.

Health advice for persons tested positive for COVID-19

Persons tested positive for COVID-19 should take heed of the health advice below:

• Persons who are at higher risk (e.g. immunosuppressed people, older people, people with underlying medical conditions) and persons who developed obvious symptoms are advised to seek prompt medical advice;
• Persons who are symptomatic are advised to stay at home and avoid going out. Persons who are asymptomatic can go out on their will or go to work.
• Students who are symptomatic should not attend schools;
• Infected persons are advised to wear well-fitting surgical masks, KF94 masks, KN95 masks or respirators (such as N95 respirators) during the first five days after testing positive. They should also avoid contact with persons who are at higher risk, contact with others in mask-off situation (e.g. share table with others for meal), going to crowded places and mass gatherings;
• Closely monitor health condition and seek medical advice promptly if symptoms arise or getting worse;
• Keep your home well ventilated by having windows opened as far as feasible; and
• Pay attention to personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Clean and disinfect the shared items and facilities (e.g. toilet) at home frequently and after use

Other languages

• From 0.00am on April 1 (Hong Kong time), Hong Kong residents who have stayed in any overseas places in the previous 14 days can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they comply with the following conditions. Meanwhile, non-Hong Kong residents will not be allowed to board flights for Hong Kong from any overseas places.
• The relevant persons will be subject to the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport. Upon tested negative with a PCR-based nucleic acid test, they will be taken to DQHs by designated transport to undergo compulsory quarantine.
• The basic quarantine requirement for the relevant persons is to undergo compulsory quarantine for 14 days in a DQH, and they will be issued a 14-day quarantine order. They are subject to daily rapid antigen tests (RATs), as well as PCR-based nucleic acid tests on the fifth and 12th days of arrival at Hong Kong.
• As the relevant persons have been fully vaccinated (Note 1), under the isolation and quarantine arrangements of local cases (Note 2), if the results of the PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted on the fifth day and the RATs conducted on the sixth and seventh days are all negative, they can be discharged from compulsory quarantine earlier.  However, they will be required to undergo self-monitoring for seven days, and undergo a compulsory PCR-based nucleic acid test on the 12th day of arrival at Hong Kong at a community testing centre (CTC) or a mobile testing station (MTS), or arrange a self-paid test by professional swab sampling at a local medical institution recognised by the Government.
• In accordance with the "family-friendly" principle which has been running well, Hong Kong residents or children of Hong Kong residents aged under 12 and are yet to be vaccinated can also board flights for Hong Kong if they are accompanied by Hong Kong residents who comply with the above boarding requirements. These children must also hold a negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted with specimen collected within 48 hours as stated above, and confirmation of room reservation in a DQH. The children must undergo compulsory quarantine together with the accompanying persons. If the results of the PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted on the fifth day and the RATs conducted on the sixth and seventh days are all negative, the children can also be discharged from quarantine earlier with the accompanying persons. Just as the accompanying persons, these children must undergo self-monitoring for seven days, and compulsory testing on the 12th day of arrival at Hong Kong as per the requirements above.
• To better utilise limited DQH rooms, inbound travellers should decide when making their DQH booking whether or not they will choose to be discharged from compulsory quarantine earlier upon fulfilling the relevant conditions in accordance with the above arrangements, and correspondingly reserve their DQH rooms for seven or 14 nights.
• Inbound travellers who plan on early discharge from compulsory quarantine upon fulfilling the relevant conditions must hold at boarding a confirmation of a seven-night room reservation in a DQH. For inbound travellers who hold a confirmation of a seven-night room reservation in a DQH, the quarantine order issued to them will indicate that upon fulfilling the above criteria for early discharge from compulsory quarantine, they will be considered to have completed their compulsory quarantine, and they must then depart the DQH.
• If inbound travellers choose to complete the whole 14-day compulsory quarantine period in the DQH, they must at boarding hold a confirmation of a 14-night room reservation in a DQH. Persons who hold a confirmation of a 14-night room reservation in a DQH will not be arranged for early discharge from compulsory quarantine, and must stay in the DQH room for completing the 14-day compulsory quarantine.  They can only leave the DQH upon confirmation of negative results of the PCR-based nucleic acid test conducted on the 12th day and the RAT conducted on the 14th day.
• If any result is positive from the "test-and-hold" PCR-based nucleic acid test, the PCR-based nucleic acid tests conducted on the fifth day or the 12th day, or the daily RATs, the relevant inbound traveller will be arranged to undergo suitable isolation and treatment under the multi-tiered triage and treatment strategy as with local positive cases. Inbound travellers tested positive after arrival and have no obvious symptoms and no need for medical support will be transferred to a community isolation facility hotel and be issued an isolation order.  Their isolation and discharge arrangements will be the same as those for local positive cases under isolation, i.e. for those who are fully vaccinated, they can be considered to have completed isolation upon receiving negative results from the RATs conducted on the sixth day and the seventh day after being tested positive.

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Hong Kong relaxes its COVID travel restrictions for outbound passengers

Hong Kong will end temperature checks for some passengers at its international airport, and relax quarantine requirements for local air crews, after some of the city’s most prominent voices called for an end to virus-related travel restrictions.

Starting Saturday, transiting and outbound passengers at Hong Kong International Airport—except for those bound for China—will no longer be required to undergo temperature screening, the government said in a statement on Friday. It comes a day after the U.S. consulate in the city advised its citizens to avoid transiting through the airport because they faced the risk of being sent to a government quarantine facility if found positive for COVID-19.

Hong Kong is also relaxing its three-day hotel quarantine requirement for air crews, again effective Sept. 10. Under the new plan, locally-based crews on overseas passenger flights will undergo a “test and hold” arrangement upon arrival, and may leave the airport after a negative COVID test, the government said in another statement.

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Augustus Tang welcomed the news and the “succession of developments” to relax travel restrictions in the past few months, according to a statement on Friday. “These changes allow us to add back more flights, to build momentum and to continue our recovery,” he said.

The loosening of Hong Kong’s COVID protocols follows comments by one of the city’s wealthiest property developers, Peter Woo, who made a rare call for the government to end inbound travel restrictions. The city is facing a resurgence in COVID infections, and the latest daily count stood at 10,076 cases. 

Hong Kong’s inbound travel policies have been among the strictest in the world. Visitors to the city are required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine for three nights, while the rest of the world has largely scrapped such measures.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee has acknowledged the government is having internal conversations on whether to cut hotel quarantine ahead of a summit of global bankers and an international rugby competition in November.

The government also said on Friday that officials from Hong Kong and Shenzhen had held a virtual meeting to discuss a pre-departure quarantine plan for travelers to the mainland.

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Additional reporting by Sophie Yu in Shanghai, Jamie Freed in Hong Kong and Twinnie Siu in Hong Kong; Editing by Clarence Fernandez

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Thomson Reuters

Farah Master is a Senior Correspondent at Reuters where she focuses on health, demographics and the environment in China. She has worked for Reuters in London, Beijing and Shanghai before moving to Hong Kong in 2013. With a background spanning reporting in markets, companies, sports, political and general news, and economics, she was also part of a team named as a Pulitzer finalist in 2020 for investigative reports on the revolt of Hong Kong. Farah speaks English, Mandarin and Spanish. She has a Masters in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.

Joyce is a talented visual journalist based in Hong Kong and Greater China, driven by a profound passion for capturing historical moments and sharing stories through the medium of video. Her exceptional skills and dedication to her craft earned her the prestigious title of Reuters Video Journalist of the Year in 2019. Joyce's work revolves around documenting significant events and exploring the rich cultural tapestry of the region. Outside of her professional pursuits, she finds solace and inspiration in hiking, immersing herself in the beauty of nature. With a deep appreciation for tea, Joyce enjoys discovering its diverse flavours and delving into its rich history.

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Travelling to Hong Kong? Here's what you need to know

A guide to help you prepare for your entry into the city

International travellers are free to come to Hong Kong, and there are no more restrictions upon arrival.  If you have some enquiries about travelling to the city, we've compiled a guide to help you with everything you need to know when entering Hong Kong, from things to prepare before arriving at Hong Kong International Airport to all the steps you must take as soon as you land.  

RECOMMENDED:  Keep updated with the  latest Covid-19 measures in the city . 

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Who can visit Hong Kong now?

Hong Kong has already dropped the vaccination requirement for Hongkongers and international arrivals. Unvaccinated residents and non-residents will be able to enter the city without restriction .  

What are the requirements to enter Hong Kong?

With Covid-19 measures now eased in Hong Kong, including arrival restrictions, international travellers looking to explore the city are now free to enter. Of course, if your country requires a visa to visit Hong Kong,  please obtain one before your trip . 

Negative RAT or RT-PCR test results before boarding are no longer required . 

Will they allow entry if my visa is expiring?

If you're not a permanent Hong Kong resident and travelling under a work or tourist visa, ensure your visa has a sufficient validity period, or you will be denied entry. 

The Immigration Department (ImmD) provides electronic services for visa application and 'e-Visa' arrangements , allowing applicants to complete the entire process without going to the immigration office in person. Suppose your visa is under renewal and is getting delayed. It is best to send an authorised representative to the ImmD office to fix your reentry as emails and phone calls will take a long time. 

Visit this link to see ImmD online services for acquiring Hong Kong visas. 

Can arrivals move freely around the city?

Yes, Covid-19 regulations have already eased in Hong Kong. You can freely  explore all the incredible things to do in the city . Mask-wearing mandate, the last major rule to fight against Covid-19, has been lifted since March 1. 

For more clarity,  here's our guide on everything you need to know  about Hong Kong's current Covid-19 restrictions. 

Do I still need to take Covid-19 tests?

You don't need to present negative Covid-19 results when you arrive at the Hong Kong airport, but the government recommends taking daily RAT until the fifth day of arrival (arrival date count as Day 0). Those who take the test may voluntarily declare the result  via the Department of Health's Electronic Covid-19 Monitoring & Surveillance System (eCMSS) .  

Ok, so you finally booked your flight, what to do next?

To ensure a smooth and efficient arrival, prepare all your travel documents, including visa for non-Hong Kong residents. 

What time should I go to the airport for departure? 

Delays, cancellations, and a whole lot of waiting may happen before departure, so make sure to be at the airport at least three hours before your flight. Account for extra time if you encounter any problems with airline check-in. 

Arrival at Hong Kong International Airport

Yes, you're finally in Hong Kong, but not just yet. You still have a few more steps to finish before entering. Though the new system significantly cuts the waiting time in the airport, the influx of inbound travellers may affect processing time.

After landing, all inbound persons will pass through temperature checks upon arrival. Those with symptoms will be referred to the Department of Health for further handling. If you're cleared, you can proceed with immigration procedures, baggage collection, and continue taking public transportation to your hotel or home.

What are the options for airport transfers?

Travellers arriving in the city can take public transport to their destination. Those who want a limousine service can contact their hotels for arrangements.  One of the fastest ways to travel from the Airport to the city is through Airport Express.

Find more information  here . 

What if I tested positive for Covid-19?

Hong Kong government no longer issue isolation orders to infected Covid-19 cases since January 30. The government advises symptomatic persons to stay at home to rest and avoid going out. Those who are asymptomatic can go out at will or go to work.

If you belong to high-risk groups and suffer from fever, cough, shortness of breath, vomiting, and diarrhoea, the government recommends that you seek medical attention. 

For more information, visit this  link .   

Got more questions?

The government has set up a page for all your questions about inbound travel to Hong Kong . Due to the changing nature of Covid-19 measures, please  visit this link  to keep updated with the latest travel regulations. 

Feel free to roam Hong Kong!  These itineraries will give you a dose of inspiration . Looking for hotel accommodations during your trip?  Here's a guide to some of our favourite Hong Kong hotels  – all tried and tested by our editors. You can also check out   the most romantic hotels  in the city or schedule a weekend getaway from the  best beachside hotels ,  boutique hotels , or  luxury camping spots in town .  

You've been gone a while, here's what's new in HK

50 Most incredible things to do in Hong Kong

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New restaurants to try in Hong Kong

The latest and greatest restaurants to get stuck into this month

New bars to try in Hong Kong now

A  list of new drinking dens to add to your bar-hopping itinerary. 

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Inbound travel restrictions maintained

The Government today announced that as the global COVID-19 epidemic situation remains severe it will maintain the measure to restrict people who have stayed in the extremely high-risk specified places from boarding flights for Hong Kong as well as the 21-day compulsory quarantine requirement for people arriving in the city who have stayed in places outside China.

To facilitate the public's understanding of the boarding and compulsory quarantine  requirements under the relevant regulations for people who have stayed in different places outside China, the Government has categorised the requirements for the relevant specified places into three groups.

For Group A extremely high-risk specified places, any person who has stayed in Brazil, Ireland, South Africa and the UK for more than two hours on the day of boarding or during the 21 days before that day are not allowed to board for Hong Kong.

Noting that the measures are very stringent and would inevitably affect the return journeys of a number of Hong Kong residents in those places, the Government said it is necessary to extend the relevant arrangement to protect the health of the overall community in Hong Kong by firmly guarding against the importation of the new virus variants.

For the very high-risk Group B specified places and the medium- to high-risk Group C specified places, all people arriving in Hong Kong, either via the airport or land boundary control points, who have stayed in places outside China on the day of arrival in the city or during the 21 days before that day have to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in designated quarantine hotels.

People arriving in the city who have stayed in Group B specified places also have to present prior to boarding proof of a negative result of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the aircraft's scheduled time of departure.

The Government said it will closely monitor the developments of the global and local epidemic situation and suitably adjust the requirements as needed or as practicable.