Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

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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

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The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Inbound Travel

Inbound arrangements.

  • All inbound persons must pass temperature checks upon arrival. Those found with symptoms will be referred to the Department of Health for further handling.
  • No further restrictions upon arrival.

Handling Arrangements for Persons Tested Positive After Arrival at Hong Kong

  • For persons tested positive after arrival at Hong Kong, please refer to the webpage on Points to Note for Persons who Tested Positive .

Please refer to this webpage .

More Information

Security Bureau

  • Useful Links

Hot Topics:

  • Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong
  • Policy Address - Chapter on Security

Outbound Travel Alerts

Ota currently in force, other travel information.

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For travel advice or related information on foreign countries, you may:

download the mobile app of

Ministry of Foreign Affairs 12308" (Chinese only)

WeChat of Consular Services of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chinese only);

Weibo of Consular Services of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chinese only)

  • Outbound Travel Alert of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (Chinese only
  • Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China (Chinese only)
  • 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

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Inbound travel rules maintained: CE

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here .)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said it is very unlikely that the Government will relax its inbound travel restrictions before the end of June.

Ahead of today’s Executive Council meeting in the morning, Mrs Lam pointed out that while the number of local COVID-19 cases is now very low, imported cases account for a significant share of the total caseload.

“On top of that, we are seeing different variants under (the Omicron sublineage) BA.2, so we have to be extremely careful in implementing the restrictions on border controls.

“We will still have the hotel quarantine, we will still require vaccination before a passenger can board a plane to Hong Kong, and we will still impose the test-and-hold arrangement, whether at the airport or at a hotel, for a polymerase chain reaction nucleic acid test in order to keep Hong Kong safe.”

Noting that the Government will implement the third stage of the vaccine pass arrangement on May 31, the Chief Executive called on citizens to get the third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves and facilitate their access to specified premises by then.

Meanwhile, as a gatekeeping measure, the daily rapid antigen test requirement for students and school staff will be maintained until late June, she added.

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Hong Kong finally opens to vaccinated travellers with a single pre-departure Covid test

Most restrictions have been dropped, effective immediately, article bookmarked.

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Opening up: Almost all Covid restrictions for Hong Kong have been lifted

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Hong Kong, one of the last big tourism destinations in Asia with onerous Covid travel restrictions, has lifted almost of them for vaccinated visitors – starting immediately.

The government says the move has been made “to fully leverage Hong Kong’s strengths in connecting with the world”.

While Hong Kong’s rules have been eased significantly in recent months, until 29 December arrivals required multiple PCR tests after arrival. In addition, access to many venues was controlled by a Vaccine Pass.

The only testing requirement now is a lateral flow (rapid antigen) test within the 24 hours before the flight departs to Hong Kong. Completing the health declaration form is now optional.

Hong Kong’s government says: “Inbound persons are advised to conduct daily rapid antigen test (RAT) until Day 5 after their arrival at Hong Kong.” But this is purely voluntary.

Restrictions on group gatherings and limits on capacity of restaurants have been lifted, but a mask mandate remains in effect in many settings. In restaurants, for example, “all patrons, when they are away from the table, must not consume food or drink and must wear a mask in general”.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Hong Kong was served by dozens of flights each week from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.

Hong Kong banned all flights from the UK in December 2020. They were allowed briefly in May and June 2021, but then barred again in July 2021 until April 2022.

Cathay Pacific , Hong Kong’s main airline, has cut flights drastically worldwide – with a significant part of its fleet languishing at Alice Springs airport in central Australia.

It operates only two flights per day from the UK to Hong Kong, both from London Heathrow.

British Airways , which used to operate multiple flights using A380 SuperJumbo aircraft, currently has a single daily Boeing 787 service.

Dr Pang Yiu-kai, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), said: “The new measures mark a key milestone for tourism revival and the full reopening of the tourism doors of Hong Kong.

“We believe this will attract visitors to Hong Kong from around the world. Taking into account the pace of outbound travel resumption in different visitor source markets, HKTB will gradually step up its promotions worldwide to uphold Hong Kong’s status as a world-class travel destination.”

Mandatory hotel quarantine for overseas arrivals to Hong Kong ended on 26 September 2022.

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Hong Kong relaxes its COVID travel restrictions for outbound passengers

Hong Kong will relax some of its COVID travel restrictions for some passengers and local air crews.

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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Hong Kong struggles to win back long-haul tourists amid fewer flights and travel warnings

Hillary Leung

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Along Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour on a March weekend, tourists armed with selfie sticks jostled for space as they took photos with the city’s famed skyline as a backdrop. Nearby, tour guides told the stories of Bruce Lee and Tony Leung, two local actors featured in the Avenue of Stars – Hong Kong’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Golden week mainland tourists mainlanders tsim sha tsui

Years ago, the chatter would likely have been a symphony of languages, from English to Korean to French and others. But on that Saturday afternoon, little else but Mandarin could be heard.

Since Hong Kong fully reopened to travellers last February after three years of strict pandemic rules, mainland Chinese visitors have largely returned to the city. Data from the Hong Kong Tourism Board shows that the number of mainland tourists in the last quarter of 2023 had recovered to around 80 per cent of the average in the five-year period between 2015 and 2019.

See also: Hong Kong needs more than free flights to bring back long-haul tourists after protests and pandemic

International tourists, however, saw a recovery of just about 60 per cent. Among them, visitors from South and Southeast Asia recorded the fastest growth. Numbers from Europe and the United States lagged behind.

In the fourth quarter of last year, the city recorded 72,035 UK tourists compared to 158,702 in the same period of 2018. The number of US visitors declined from 377,613 to 216,965 in the same period.

Allan Zeman, the chairperson of Lan Kwai Fong Group, said long-haul tourists were not coming back to Hong Kong in the same numbers because airlines had yet to restore the number of Hong Kong-bound flights to pre-pandemic levels.

Passengers waiting in queue to check-in at Cathay Pacific's counter at the Hong Kong International Airport. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

“Cathay Pacific was very worried about overhead during Covid. Management decided to get rid of half the pilots,” Zeman said, referring to the Hong Kong carrier’s slashing of its workforce as strict Covid-19 rules grounded planes and halted flight routes.

According to the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, Cathay Pacific employed just under 4,000 pilots in 2019. Now, it has around 2,500.

See also: Furious pilots and a lack of trust – Why aircrew at Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific are quitting what was once a dream job

Before the pandemic, Cathay Pacific flew to 119 destinations, according to its 2019 annual report . As of the end of 2023, the airline had only around 80 places on its route map.

The drop in flight availability had driven up air fares to Hong Kong, Zeman added.

“For a UK family of four, it would cost them HK$50,000 to HK$60,000 [round-trip] to come here,” the mogul said. “So they decide go closer to home instead.”

Michael Moriarty Hong Kong Disneyland tourists visitors crowd

Paul Chan, the co-founder of tour group Walk in Hong Kong, said the blame could not be pinned on Cathay Pacific alone, as long-haul flights to Hong Kong across airlines had not fully recovered in general.

“Insufficient flights and expensive airfares is a problem,” Chan said, speaking in Cantonese to HKFP.

‘Political rhetoric’

Hong Kong authorities have made winning back tourists a key policy goal. During the budget speech in February, the government announced it had allocated HK$1.1 billion to promote “mega events,” host monthly pyrotechnics and drone shows, and partner with influencers to promote Hong Kong.

In its publicity efforts, the government has sought to paint a picture of a city that remains a vibrant place to travel to and conduct business in.

But tourists today are visiting a city vastly different to what it once was. Following large-scale protests in 2019 , Beijing the following year imposed a national security law on Hong Kong, under which civil society groups have disbanded and scores of activists have been jailed.

The city has also revived a colonial-era sedition law, jailing dozens – including ordinary people – for allegedly endangering national security.

article 23

The US , Canadian and Australian authorities are among the Western governments that have issued travel advisories for Hong Kong, warning of “broad” and “arbitrary” local laws.

Following the passage of further security legislation in March, the Australian government updated its warning. “The law includes additional national security offences. You could be detained without charge for up to 16 days and denied access to a lawyer for up to 48 hours,” the advisory reads.

Zeman said he had heard of tourists asking whether Hong Kong was “safe.”

See also: Silent night: Hong Kong tourist traps are empty, locals stay home as gov’t drive to revive evening economy begins

“The media says that China is not safe and they think Hong Kong is part of China. They don’t know what One Country, Two Systems is,” he said, referring to the city’s governing framework which is intended to give Hong Kong a certain degree of autonomy.

Talk about Hong Kong “losing its freedoms” was “just political rhetoric,” Zeman said, adding that he did not think Hong Kong’s image in the eyes of international tourists as a whole had changed. But he acknowledged that geopolitics had increasingly come into the picture, and that “some people” might believe the rhetoric.

hong kong airport tourism travel

Chan, the co-founder of Walk in Hong Kong, said politics rarely came up in conversation with tourists.

“I don’t know if they care [about Hong Kong politics], but it’s not what they care the most about,” Chan said. “They are most concerned with physical safety, if it’s comfortable, and if they can do the things they want to do.”

Demand and supply

With fewer flights coming to Hong Kong, the city has seen its status as an aviation hub suffer.

In 2019, the Hong Kong International Airport was ranked 10th on a list of the world’s airport megahubs. The ranking, by data provider Official Airline Guide, took into account destinations served by the airport and scheduled seat capacity.

Last year, the city’s airport was in 37th place, surpassed by those serving other Asian cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Jakarta.

Hong Kong international airport Cathay airplane

Shukor Yusof, the founder of aviation consultancy Endau Analytics, said airlines had been “hesitant in their projection” of Hong Kong after the protests in 2019 and Covid-19.

He added that business travellers were a significant customer base for flights to Hong Kong. With fewer major conventions and events, there was less interest in the city, he said.

“I think [Hong Kong] has just lost its lustre,” Yusof said, adding that even without accounting for air fares, the city was an expensive destination.

March, however, proved a strong month for Hong Kong’s “mega events” push. The city hosted ComplexCon, an American pop culture festival, while Art Basel and Art Central also returned to their pre-pandemic scales.

Still, Yusof said there was some way to go. Until there was more demand for flights to Hong Kong, airlines would likely not fully reinstate routes, Yusof said.

“Airlines will fly when there is demand,” he said. “The markets don’t lie.”

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Hillary Leung

Hillary Leung Senior Reporter

Hillary Leung is a journalist at Hong Kong Free Press, where she reports on local politics and social issues, and assists with editing. Since joining in late 2021, she has covered the Covid-19 pandemic, political court cases including the 47 democrats national security trial, and challenges faced by minority communities.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Hillary completed her undergraduate degree in journalism and sociology at the University of Hong Kong. She worked at TIME Magazine in 2019, where she wrote about Asia and overnight US news before turning her focus to the protests that began that summer. At Coconuts Hong Kong, she covered general news and wrote features, including about a Black Lives Matter march that drew controversy amid the local pro-democracy movement and two sisters who were born to a domestic worker and lived undocumented for 30 years in Hong Kong.

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University of Hong Kong head Zhang Xiang cleared of misconduct following 6-month-long internal investigation

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10 years on: How Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement sowed the seeds of a new civil society

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Interview: One artist, many instruments and a ‘melting pot’ of genres – FKJ brings his unique style back to Hong Kong

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Learning their red lines: Hong Kong’s drama groups struggle to set boundaries as performances are axed

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Organisers of Beijing half marathon look into 'embarrassing' win by China's He Jie

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Hong Kong to forcibly test every resident for COVID-19

  • Patrick Winn

In Hong Kong, a hard-line, COVID-19 policy once praised for stamping out the virus is starting to fail. The Chinese territory requires everyone who tests positive to go into quarantine — at a hospital or state-run facility. Now, cases are soaring despite the policy and hospitals are at capacity, with some of them putting infected people on beds in parking lots. The latest official announcement says that, next month, Hong Kong will attempt to test all 7 million people in the territory, a move that could bring the health system to a breaking point. Host Marco Werman speaks with The World’s Asia correspondent Patrick Winn.

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COMMENTS

  1. Latest updates on COVID-19, Passenger Guide

    Overseas Airports Information. Latest News. COVID-19 Test for Passengers. Safeguarding the airport. Boarding Requirements for Inbound Persons. All pre-departure and post-arrival quarantine and testing requirements have been removed. If the information above is inconsistent with that released by the Government, the latter shall prevail.

  2. Implementation of special COVID-19 testing arrangement for outbound

    In the light of the ongoing severe COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong and the fact that the number of cases remains at a high level, the Government announced today (March 26) the implementation of a special COVID-19 testing arrangement starting March 29 at the Hong Kong International Airport, in order to further prevent the exportation of local cases and to support the Mainland's anti ...

  3. Testing requirements for inbound persons coming to Hong Kong from ...

    The test result must be negative, and the test report must be issued by local COVID-19 testing institutions recognised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (including community testing centres/community testing stations in various districts) for conducting reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing.

  4. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

    Complete COVID-19 vaccination before travel according to the latest recommendations to effectively protect against COVID-19 disease ... 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.

  5. news.gov.hk

    January 6, 2023. In light of the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland on January 8, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced details of the relevant testing arrangements in Hong Kong today. Starting January 8, all people heading to the Mainland from Hong Kong must possess a valid self-paid COVID ...

  6. news.gov.hk

    Inbound travel rules stepped up. December 20, 2021. In view of the rapidly worsening COVID-19 pandemic situation due to the Omicron variant, the Government today announced a series of measures to further guard against the importation of cases. From December 21, the Government will impose measures applicable to Group A places with enhanced ...

  7. news.gov.hk

    Mainland travel resumes Jan 8. January 5, 2023. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today announced that normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland will be resumed in phases starting January 8. This follows a consensus reached after deliberation and co-ordination with the central government, the Guangdong Provincial ...

  8. COVID-19 Thematic Website

    Inbound Arrangements. Inbound persons arriving from the Mainland or Macao. Inbound persons arriving from Taiwan or places outside China. All pre-departure and post-arrival quarantine and testing requirements have been removed. All pre-departure and post-arrival quarantine and testing requirements have been removed. All inbound persons must pass ...

  9. Security Bureau

    The Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) System aims to help people better understand the risk or threat to personal safety in travelling to 88 countries/territories that are the more popular travel destinations for Hong Kong residents (HKRs). When there are signs of threat in a place that may affect the personal safety of HKRs, the Security Bureau will assess and consider the need to issue an OTA ...

  10. PDF COVID-19 related travel updates

    on the airside of Hong Kong airport requires a visa. For those intending to go to Mainland China/Macao via Hong Kong, please read Part II under (A) COVID-19 measures. 1. Singapore passport holders entering Hong Kong as a 'general visitor' are entitled to a visa-free period not exceeding 90 days. 2.

  11. Global travellers can return to Hong Kong restriction-free as all

    Taking into account the pace of outbound travel resumption in different visitor source markets, HKTB will gradually step up its promotions worldwide to uphold Hong Kong's status as a world-class ...

  12. Implementation of special COVID-19 testing arrangement for outbound

    In the light of the ongoing severe COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong and the fact that the number of cases remains at a high level, the Government announced today (March 19) the implementation of a special COVID-19 testing arrangement starting March 21 in order to further prevent the exportation of local cases and to support the Mainland's anti-epidemic efforts.

  13. Quarantine and testing arrangements for persons arriving at Hong Kong

    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 ...

  14. Mainland authorities to start issuing visas for Hong Kong entry from

    Hong Kong recorded 18,626 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday and another 53 deaths. The city's total tally of infections stands at 2,522,836, with 11,562 fatalities. Hong Kong restaurants enjoy some ...

  15. Covid PCR test requirement for cross-border travel between Hong Kong

    While quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and mainland China resumed last month, travellers going both ways were required to obtain a negative result from a Covid-19 PCR test taken within 48 ...

  16. Hong Kong Lifts Most COVID-19 Restrictions for Travelers

    Hong Kong 's Special Administrative Republic is lifting all mandatory PCR testing requirements for inbound travelers upon arrival into Hong Kong, as well as the Vaccine Pass, though still requires travelers to test via PCR or rapid antigen prior to their flights to Hong Kong Thursday, December 29, following the prior announcement that China ...

  17. news.gov.hk

    Inbound travel rules maintained: CE. May 24, 2022. ... Mrs Lam pointed out that while the number of local COVID-19 cases is now very low, imported cases account for a significant share of the total caseload. ... we will still require vaccination before a passenger can board a plane to Hong Kong, and we will still impose the test-and-hold ...

  18. Hong Kong finally opens to travellers with a single pre-departure Covid

    Hong Kong's government says: "Inbound persons are advised to conduct daily rapid antigen test (RAT) until Day 5 after their arrival at Hong Kong.". But this is purely voluntary. Restrictions ...

  19. PDF COVID-19 related travel updates

    outbound travel. The test must be taken within 48 hours before the scheduled flight departure time (for those entering the Mainland via airport) or arrival time (for those ... websites for the latest entry requirements before your trip to Hong Kong. 2. Information on COVID-19 travels, transits and telephone numbers at Hong Kong airport:

  20. 2024 Traveling to China Updates

    Hong Kong entry requirement and travel advice. International travellers bound for Hong Kong will no longer need to take pre-flight COVID-19 test (no PCR test, no RAT test) from April 1. Whether vaccinated or not, you can enter Hong Kong freely. Travellers are no longer required to wear masks indoors, outdoors, or on public transport carriers in ...

  21. Hong Kong relaxes its COVID travel restrictions for outbound ...

    September 9, 2022, 8:01 AM PDT. Hong Kong will relax some of its COVID travel restrictions for some passengers and local air crews. Vernon Yuen—NurPhoto/Getty Images. Hong Kong will end ...

  22. Government adjusts temperature screening arrangements for outbound and

    The Government announced today (September 9) that in view of the gradual removal of COVID-19 prevention and control requirements in overseas places, outbound passengers and transit passengers departing for overseas places or Taiwan via the Hong Kong International Airport will no longer be required to go through temperature screening starting tomorrow (September 10).

  23. Hong Kong struggles to win back long-haul tourists

    Hong Kong Disneyland on May 15, 2023. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Paul Chan, the co-founder of tour group Walk in Hong Kong, said the blame could not be pinned on Cathay Pacific alone, as long-haul ...

  24. PDF Hong Kong COVID-19: Inbound Traveller Requirements Relaxed

    The "0+3" policy helps to restore the convenience of travel and makes it easier for people to travel to Hong Kong, or return to Hong Kong following outbound travel. This should help facilitate business activities where travel is necessary or desirable. As the inconvenience of hotel quarantine is removed, business and personal travel plans ...

  25. Hong Kong to forcibly test every resident for COVID-19

    Hong Kong to forcibly test every resident for COVID-19. The World Feb. 21, 2022. Patrick Winn. In Hong Kong, a hard-line, COVID-19 policy once praised for stamping out the virus is starting to fail. The Chinese territory requires everyone who tests positive to go into quarantine — at a hospital or state-run facility. Now, cases are soaring ...