Considering the rapid escalation of the Coronavirus outbreak in Mainland China, the Hong Kong government has made precautionary measures for disease prevention and control. UK institutions who are planning on traveling to HK should note the following:

Local class suspension until Thursday 02 March

The Education Bureau has announced to extend suspension of lessons at all primary and secondary schools and kindergartens from Monday 17 February to Thursday 02 March. Some local Higher Education Institutions (e.g. Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Hong Kong) also followed suit and have made precautions and arrangements to support their students accordingly.

In addition, according to South Morning China Post, the chairman of secondary headteachers association shared his concerns about the latest class suspension and worried this could potentially impact Secondary Year 3 students facing their university entrance examination this year, as they are expected to take mock tests in February but now obtain fewer teaching contact hours from schools. He urged schools to cancel examinations for other grades and turn to online learning instead.

The British Council office in Hong Kong will remain closed until Monday 10 February. To support efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Hong Kong, we have postponed upcoming English classes, tests and exams for the next 2 weeks and will review the status on a weekly basis.

Partial cross-border closure between Hong Kong and Mainland China

As a preventative effort to eliminate the virus outbreak. The Government has inserted a series of border restrictions effective from today (03 February 2020) the following transport services and border control point services will be reduced or suspended until further notice:

• National railway services: the services of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Intercity Through Train will be suspended.
• Aviation services: mainland flights will be reduced by 50%.
• Ferry services: all cross-boundary ferry services to and from Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, China Ferry Terminal and the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal will be suspended.
• Land-based cross-boundary transport, cross-boundary coach and shuttle bus services: the control points of Lo Wu , Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, Lok Ma Chau – Huanggang will be closed at midnight on Tuesday 04 February. Shenzhen Bay Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will remain open, but the service frequency of the public transport will be reduced.

Enhancing exit screening and health declaration at HK International Airport and Shenzhen Bay Port

Starting from Saturday 01 February, Hong Kong International Airport will implement body temperature checks for both departing and transit passengers. No boarding will be allowed for passengers with fever. On land-based control point, the Government will impose a requirement for health declaration at the Shenzhen Bay Port.

If you plan to travel to Hong Kong in the upcoming days, we recommend you signing up for regular updates from the UK government Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice page, which you can find at FCO Travel Advice- Hong Kong. Please especially note the Health section on this page. 

For update about our services in Mainland China, please refer to British Council China: Coronavirus update (February 03) on our website.

Should you require any further support for your activities in Hong Kong at this time, please do not hesitate to contact the Hong Kong team at karen.hsu@britishcouncil.org.hk

Sources:

• Hong Kong announces new border closures, as China's coronavirus death toll overtakes SARS, CNN
• Press release: Government enhances disease prevention and control measures with reference to WHO's advice, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
• China coronavirus: what you need to know, South Morning China Post
• Centre for Health Protection (CHP), HKSAR