The Government announced on August 5 adjustments and clarifications on the quarantine and testing arrangements for persons arriving at Hong Kong from places in the Mainland other than Guangdong Province, Macao, and Taiwan, in view of the latest situation.
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For persons (arriving at Hong Kong from August 4) who have not been fully vaccinated, and who have stayed in places in the Mainland other than Guangdong Province or Macao during the relevant period (i.e. the day of arrival at Hong Kong and during the 14 days before that day), they are subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days at home, and have to undergo compulsory testing on the third, seventh and 12th days of arrival at Hong Kong during quarantine, as well as on the 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong after the completion of quarantine.
For persons who have not been fully vaccinated and who have stayed in Taiwan during the relevant period, they are required to undergo a nucleic acid test within 72 hours prior to boarding a flight for Hong Kong, subject to compulsory quarantine in designated quarantine hotels (DQHs) for 21 days, and have to be tested four times during quarantine.
For persons arriving at Hong Kong from the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan, if they have been fully vaccinated, their compulsory quarantine period can be shortened in accordance with the prevailing arrangements.
The Government confirmed that for fully vaccinated persons who have stayed in the Mainland or Macao during the relevant period, they are only subject to compulsory quarantine at home for seven days with seven days of self-monitoring afterwards, and have to undergo compulsory testing on the third and fifth days of arrival at Hong Kong during quarantine, as well as on the ninth, 12th, 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong after the completion of quarantine.
For fully vaccinated persons who have stayed in Taiwan during the relevant period, they are subject to compulsory quarantine in DQHs for 14 days, have to be tested three times during quarantine, self monitor for seven days afterwards, and have to undergo compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong.
If the relevant persons have been fully vaccinated and hold a recognised positive result proof of serology antibody test, they are subject to compulsory quarantine in DQHs for seven days, have to be tested twice during quarantine, self monitor for seven days afterwards, and have to undergo compulsory testing on the ninth, 12th, 16th and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong.
Except for places in the Mainland other than Guangdong Province and Macao that have been included on the List of At-risk Places Temporarily Inapplicable under the Return2hk Scheme, as well as Taiwan for which the quarantine arrangements were tightened earlier due to the epidemic situation there, the quarantine arrangements for persons arriving at Hong Kong from other places in China are not affected.
That is, for Hong Kong residents arriving at Hong Kong from Guangdong Province under the Return2hk Scheme, as well as persons arriving at Hong Kong who have only stayed in Guangdong Province during the relevant period, the existing quarantine arrangements continue to be applicable.
At the same time, due to the present epidemic situation, the Government will from August 9 require all persons who have stayed in places in the Mainland other than Guangdong Province or Macao to present prior to boarding a flight for Hong Kong a negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 which is conducted on the day or within three days prior to the scheduled time of departure. Persons who fail to present the relevant negative test result will not be allowed to board for Hong Kong.
As mentioned above, relevant persons will be tested multiple times during quarantine. In the light of the ravages of mutant virus, the Government will also enhance the testing requirements applicable to persons arriving from the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan, including the addition of compulsory testing on the ninth, 16th, and 19th days of arrival at Hong Kong for persons with exempted or shortened quarantine periods.
The newly enhanced compulsory testing requirements are applicable to all persons arriving at Hong Kong on or after August 4 (including persons returning to Hong Kong under Return2hk).
The above quarantine and testing arrangements applicable to persons arriving at Hong Kong from places in the Mainland other than Guangdong Province, Taiwan and Macao will tally with those quarantine and testing arrangements that will soon be implemented for persons arriving from overseas medium-risk and low-risk places (except persons arriving at Hong Kong from the Mainland or Macao who may undergo compulsory quarantine at home).
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will continue to maintain close communication and liaison with Mainland and Macao authorities on epidemic prevention and control measures of the three places, and fight against COVID-19 together under the framework of joint prevention and control, as well as closely monitor the epidemic developments of the Mainland and Macao, and suitably adjust cross-boundary prevention and control measures when appropriate. ■