Starting September 26, the boarding requirements and quarantine arrangements for inbound persons from overseas places (excluding Mainland China and Macau) will be adjusted as follows:

(1) Boarding requirements

The pre-departure test for inbound persons from overseas places and Taiwan will be changed to an RAT (can be self-administered or by professional swab sampling) conducted within 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of departure. The relevant inbound persons should then declare the test result via the Health & Quarantine Information Declaration.

In order to avoid putting pressure on the local healthcare system once visitors are identified as confirmed cases, non-Hong Kong residents aged 12 or above arriving from overseas places are still required to be fully vaccinated before they are allowed to board a flight for Hong Kong.

Inbound persons will still be required to complete the online Health & Quarantine Information Declaration of the Department of Health (www.chp.gov.hk/hdf/) in advance, including declaration of vaccination records and the results of pre-departure RAT. They are also required to present the green health declaration QR code generated upon completion of declaration (which can be a downloadable version of the QR code, a screen shot or a printout) at check-in for verification by airlines for boarding. The health declaration QR code will still be valid for 96 hours, i.e. inbound persons can submit the declaration form as early as three days before their scheduled arrival time in Hong Kong (for instance, a person arriving at Hong Kong on Monday may submit declaration form starting from Friday). They can then save the time by further updating the declaration after obtaining the negative result of a RAT.

(2) Arrangements upon arrival

Upon arrival at Hong Kong, the relevant persons will be required to register for undergoing a nucleic acid test by scanning the health declaration QR code. The system will issue medical surveillance notices, vaccination records and Provisional Vaccine Pass QR codes electronically. After having their specimen collected for nucleic acid testing, the relevant inbound persons may proceed with the normal arrival process. They can continue with immigration and customs clearance, claim their baggage and leave the airport by self-arranged transport, including taking public transport. In other words, inbound persons are no longer required to undergo an RAT to obtain a negative result before they can be released under the current "test-and-hold" arrangement. The relevant persons are subject to the Amber code restrictions.

(3) Amber Code restrictions during medical surveillance period and subsequent self-monitoring

Relevant inbound persons are not required to undergo compulsory quarantine, but will be under three days of medical surveillance, during which they are subject to Amber Code restrictions, and are not allowed to enter high-risk premises involving mask-off or group activities, as well as other premises requiring key protection*. They can conduct daily essential activities of lower risks, such as taking public transport, going to work, entering supermarkets and markets, etc.

For relevant inbound persons who are consecutively tested negative, medical surveillance and Amber Code restrictions on them will end at 9 am on Day 3 of arrival at Hong Kong. They will then be subject to a four-day self-monitoring period right afterwards.

(4) Testing arrangements

Inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan are subject to multiple tests after arrival at Hong Kong:

Day 0: nucleic acid test at the airport;
Day 2, Day 4 and Day 6: after obtaining a negative result of RAT on respective days, inbound persons should undergo nucleic acid test at a community testing centre or a mobile specimen collection station, or arrange a self-paid test by professional swab sampling at a local medical testing institution recognised by the Government; and
During medical surveillance and self-monitoring periods, inbound persons are subject to daily RAT until Day 7 of arrival at Hong Kong.

The handling arrangements for persons testing positive will be aligned with that for local cases, and their Vaccine Pass will be switched to Red Code. Relevant persons should provide information to the Centre for Health Protection through the online platforms (for nucleic acid tests or RATs).

*Premises regulated under Cap. 599F which are subject to "active checking" of the Vaccine Pass:
• Premises required to use the QR Code Verification Scanner and is regulated under Cap. 599F, i.e. catering business premises (including bars or pubs), amusement game centres, bathhouses, fitness centres, places of amusement, indoor places of public entertainment, party rooms, beauty parlours and massage establishments, club houses, clubs or nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong-tin kau premises, indoor sports premises, swimming pools, cruise ships, indoor event premises, barber shops or hair salons and religious premises.
• Premises required to inspect the Vaccine Pass visually as far as feasible, i.e. outdoor places of public entertainment, outdoor sports premises and outdoor event premises.
Other premises: residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities, schools and designated healthcare premises.

A person holding an Amber Code who works or study at those premises, or receives services at the designated healthcare premises, are not subject to the restriction under the Vaccine Pass. However, their entry will subject to any additional rules or requirements imposed by the employers or persons-in-charge of individual premises in accordance with their own needs.

For latest update about the Covid-19 policies in Hong Kong, please refer to : https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html

Source: https://www.ft.com/content/b1ca5e9f-a544-43d0-aad1-48fceb4a0f73

British Council Comments

Whilst restrictions on quarantine have been lifted, there are still various requirements on testing which can be cumbersome to travellers. At the moment, reports have indicated that since lifting of the quarantine restrictions, there are more people traveling out of Hong Kong than visitors coming in – possibly due to the multiple testing requirements. We are hearing speculations that restrictions will be further lifted after mid -October but this is yet to be confirmed. We advise non-essential travellers to perhaps wait till later in October before committing to any travel plans into Hong Kong as there are still various ‘grey’ areas that have not been clarified including what happens when one is tested positive on arrival.
If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Anna.Lee@britishcouncil.org