International visitors will quarantine for three days instead of seven from 12 August
Hong Kong has announced a further easing of regulations for quarantine on arrival.
From Friday 12 August, overseas visitors will only need to complete three days of compulsory hotel quarantine, rather than the seven days that are currently required.
Once the three-day quarantine has been completed, they will have to undergo a further four days of “medical surveillance”, during which they must test daily.
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On testing negative each day, they will be free to take public transport and visit shopping centres, but will be restricted from visiting venues where the checking of vaccine passes is required, including bars and gyms
Hong Kong took the first steps to reopening its borders to international visitors in May this year, with fully vaccinated travellers able to enter the Chinese Special Administrative Region (SAR), subject to the same boarding, quarantine and testing arrangements as Hong Kong residents.
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Hong Kong’s national carrier Cathay Pacific has suffered as a result of the restrictions, with passenger numbers still down 98% on pre-pandemic levels.
The airline released a statement saying: “Cathay Pacific welcomes the Hong Kong SAR government’s announcement today regarding adjustments to the hotel quarantine arrangement for inbound arrivals, effective from 12 August . These adjustments are positive steps to help facilitate travel into Hong Kong for passengers.”
For more information, visit www.gov.hk