Hong Kong has streamlined its categorisation of places deemed Covid-19  risks, condensing a five-tier system into three risk levels – high, medium and low – and changed travel rules for overseas arrivals. The new measures will kickoff on 9 August.

Countries currently categorised as extremely or very high risk will be consolidated into a new top tier labelled as “high risk”, while those currently deemed high- and medium-risk will be merged into a new medium-risk tier that will include most countries.

Under new measures, only fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents can fly in from high-risk countries, such as Britain, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Children under the age of 12 can serve part of their quarantine at home if household members are fully vaccinated. In the past, unvaccinated children returning to Hong Kong had to spend their entire quarantine period at a designated hotel, even if their parents were eligible for a reduced stay.

Fully vaccinated non-residents can enter the city from medium-risk countries, such as Singapore, Japan and the United States. Previously, only non-residents – regardless of vaccination status – who arrived from low-risk countries, namely Australia and New Zealand, were allowed to do so.

Hongkongers and non-residents can also enter the city from low-risk countries even if they are not fully vaccinated. Arrivals will have to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine and take three Covid-19 tests during that period. They will also have to self-monitor for seven days after the two-week quarantine and get screened on the 16th and 19th days of arrival in Hong Kong.

UK is currently under category A – high risk.

Only fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents can fly in, and please ensure the following before boarding:

• Present recognised vaccination record
• Present negative result proof of a PCR-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft; and
• Present confirmation of room reservation for 21 nights starting on the day of arrival in a DQH

During quarantine

• Undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in a DQH
• Undergo 4 tests during compulsory quarantine
• Self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days; and
• Undergo compulsory testing in a Community Testing Centre on the 26th day of arrival in Hong Kong

Sources:

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3143678/hong-kong-revamping-its-covid-19-entry-rules

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202108/03/P2021080200985.htm