Daily infection cases dropped to below 300 for the first time since the fifth wave hit the city in early February, according to yesterday’s government press release. Non-Hong Kong residents are finally allowed to enter the city under the same entry and quarantine rules with residents from 01 May after over two years of lockdown.

This new policy was announced by the Hong Kong government on 22 April in light of a downward trend in daily caseload and no sign of a rebound since mid-April. International passengers who have stayed overseas in the past 14 days will need to present a valid vaccination record, a negative PCR test result conducted within 48 hours prior to departure, and the booking confirmation of the designated quarantine hotel for the seven-day quarantine. ‘They are also subject to the "test-and-hold" upon arrival, transferred to quarantine hotels by designated transport, and tested multiple times amid quarantine.’, reported by the Standard Hong Kong.

Currently, feedback from local business communities and airlines about the eased rules is moderate. Business travellers will still have to take risks such as cancellation of flights, limited options of quarantine hotels, additional costs when contracting the virus before or during the travel. Business leaders are not expecting to see a significant increase of arrivals from non-Hong Kong residents at this stage.

Source:

• New Covid cases fall further to below 300, Radio Television Hong Kong
• First international travellers flying into Hong Kong after travel rules eased express relief over being allowed to enter city, South China Morning Post
• Government suitably adjusts inbound control measures on risk-based principle, HKSAR press release

Comments by the British Council

Hong Kong is finally taking her first step to ease the Covid-19 rules for international visitors since the pandemic began, however it still lags behind their neighbours in the region (e.g. Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand) in terms of their road back to normality. With rigorous entry and quarantine requirements remaining in place comparting to other countries, this implies travelling to the city for in-person activities in Hong Kong for the summer might still not be feasible at this point.

Meanwhile, as the Covid-19 situation is gradually under control, all schools have resumed face-to-face classes on a half-day basis. Most agents that we spoke with said plans for hosting in-person student recruitment activities would still go ahead. They welcome representatives from UK institutions to attend events physically but would also understand if this is not viable financially and operationally. It is anticipated that most events will still be hosted virtually or in a hybrid style during the peak season.