The Labour Department (LD) today (January 10) announced that the Rambler Garden Hotel will, starting from February 1, provide an additional 150 rooms for quarantine of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), such that its number of rooms serving as a Designated Quarantine Facility (DQF) will be increased to 650. 

     The LD spokesman said, "Employers of FDHs and employment agencies (EAs) can, starting from 10am on January 11 onwards, reserve a room through the online booking system of the hotel (please click here to enter the booking system). Starting from February 1, the fee per room per night will be at $700 (including three meals and all charges) while the fee per night will still be at $650 before February 1. The hotel will adjust the number of rooms open for reservation each day having regard to the overall booking situation. The Government understands the need of local families for FDHs. However, the local epidemic situation has worsened rapidly, the Government must vigilantly uphold the policy of guarding against importation of cases. The Government will consider whether more DQFs can be provided having regard to the global and local epidemic situation."

     Employers and EAs must register using the real name as shown on the valid passport of the residing FDHs, and rooms reserved are not transferrable. Reservation applications made under the name of another person or party will not be processed. When making the room reservation, the FDH's passport copy, a valid employment visa and a recognised vaccination record must be made available. The reservation process is completed upon issuance of a booking confirmation by the hotel. FDHs will need to provide the above documents for verification when they check into the facility.

     Employers and EAs should check the flight information and allow sufficient time for preparing the documents required and completing the procedures when arranging for their FDHs to come to Hong Kong. Payment will be refunded to the person making the reservation if a change or cancellation of room booking is required because an FDH has tested positive for COVID-19 before arrival in Hong Kong, or because of a change or cancellation of flights by the airline or a lockdown, provided that relevant supporting documents are submitted in advance. An FDH who does not have a booking confirmation by a DQF will not be allowed to board a flight for Hong Kong or may be denied entry into Hong Kong upon arrival.

     The above arrangement for quarantine at DQFs is applicable to FDHs who have been fully vaccinated in regions where Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement on their vaccination records (the currently applicable regions include Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka). For the full list of applicable regions, please visit: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/places_of_issuance_recognised_vaccination_records.pdf. A list of DQFs is in the Annex. 

     As for FDHs who have received full vaccination in Hong Kong and places of stringent regulatory authorities designated by the World Health Organisation (including Thailand), they may undergo compulsory quarantine at a general designated quarantine hotel or a DQF.

     The dedicated FDH Portal (www.fdh.labour.gov.hk) set up by the LD provides information and useful links relating to the quarantine arrangements of FDHs. For enquiries, please contact the LD through its 24-hour hotline at 2717 1771 (manned by 1823) or by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, January 10, 2022
Issued at HKT 11:48

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