Go to main content
 
Government tightens boarding and quarantine requirements for persons arriving from certain overseas places
******************************************************************************************
     The Government announced today (May 17) that the boarding and quarantine requirements for persons arriving from certain overseas places will be tightened.
      
     In view of the persistent unstable epidemic situation in various overseas places, as well as the prevalent transmission and outbreaks of cases involving the more transmissible and potentially more serious mutant virus strains, upon closely monitoring the epidemic developments in the relevant places and the case importation risks they may pose to Hong Kong, the Government will specify Argentina, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Singapore as high-risk Group B specified places with effect from May 21.
      
     All persons who have stayed in the relevant places on the day of boarding or during the 14 days before that day, will have to present at boarding a negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft, as well as the confirmation of a room reservation in a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong. On arrival at Hong Kong, they will be subject to the "test-and-hold" arrangement at the airport, and on confirmation of negative test results, they will then be required to board the designated transport arranged by the Government to proceed to the designated quarantine hotels for compulsory quarantine. In accordance with the requirements applicable to Group B and Group C specified places, non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed in the above mentioned places will be denied entry into Hong Kong.
      
     Persons arriving at Hong Kong who have stayed in the relevant places and who are yet to be fully vaccinated will be subject to a 21-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels, with four tests to be conducted during the period. Persons arriving at Hong Kong who have stayed in the relevant places and who have been fully vaccinated will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels, with three tests to be conducted during the period, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period as well as compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th day of arrival at Hong Kong.
      
     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to effect the above measures on May 21.
      
     A Government spokesman said, "The Government will continue to closely monitor the epidemic situation of various places, the prevalence of new virus variants, vaccination progress, and changes in the volume of cross-boundary passenger traffic, and will adjust the boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements for persons arriving at Hong Kong from relevant places as the situation warrants."
      
     Details on the grouping of specified places and their respective boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/high-risk-places.html.
 
Ends/Monday, May 17, 2021
Issued at HKT 18:58
NNNN
Today's Press Releases