Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London

Latest Updates

Government announces list of eighth-cycle designated quarantine hotels

The Government announced today (June 16) the list of the first batch of designated quarantine hotels (DQHs) for the eighth cycle of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme. The new cycle of the Scheme will run from August 1 to October 31, 2022. The first batch of 62 hotels will provide about 23 000 rooms. A Government spokesman said, "The Government is still conducting assessments on other hotels applying for joining this cycle of the Scheme. Further announcements will be made when relevant work is completed."

Government announces list of eighth-cycle designated quarantine hotels

The Government announced today (June 16) the list of the first batch of designated quarantine hotels (DQHs) for the eighth cycle of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme. The new cycle of the Scheme will run from August 1 to October 31, 2022. The first batch of 62 hotels will provide about 23 000 rooms. A Government spokesman said, "The Government is still conducting assessments on other hotels applying for joining this cycle of the Scheme. Further announcements will be made when relevant work is completed."

Government suitably adjusts social distancing measures

The Government announced today (June 14) the gazettal in accordance with the public health emergency regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, which will largely extend the existing social distancing measures but require patrons of bars/pubs and clubs/nightclubs to present proof of a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result obtained within 24 hours before entering the relevant premises. The measures will be effective from June 16 to June 29.

Government suitably adjusts social distancing measures

The Government announced today (June 14) the gazettal in accordance with the public health emergency regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, which will largely extend the existing social distancing measures but require patrons of bars/pubs and clubs/nightclubs to present proof of a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result obtained within 24 hours before entering the relevant premises. The measures will be effective from June 16 to June 29.

Government extends existing social distancing measures

The Government announced today (May 31) the gazettal of the extension of the existing social distancing measures in accordance with the public health emergency regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, which are to be effective from June 2 to June 15. A Government spokesman said, "We call on citizens to continue taking anti-epidemic measures vigilantly and receive appropriate doses of COVID-19 vaccine to build a stronger city-wide protection barrier against the virus, thereby allowing our society to make steady strides along the path to normalcy."

Government extends existing social distancing measures

The Government announced today (May 31) the gazettal of the extension of the existing social distancing measures in accordance with the public health emergency regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance, which are to be effective from June 2 to June 15. A Government spokesman said, "We call on citizens to continue taking anti-epidemic measures vigilantly and receive appropriate doses of COVID-19 vaccine to build a stronger city-wide protection barrier against the virus, thereby allowing our society to make steady strides along the path to normalcy."

Government fine-tunes testing arrangements for persons entering Hong Kong and updates penalty under flight suspension mechanism

The Government announced on May 29, on the premise of maintaining the overall framework of stringent inbound prevention and control measures to guard against the importation of cases, the fine-tuned pre-departure and post-arrival nucleic acid testing arrangements applicable to persons boarding for Hong Kong from overseas places and Taiwan, and the updated penalty to be incurred by airlines for neglecting to verify the required documentation of persons boarding flights for Hong Kong and triggering the route-specific flight suspension mechanism. These will take effect from June 1. The adjustments are made so as to reduce the impact on the journeys of persons coming to Hong Kong while continuing to firmly guard against the importation of cases.

Government fine-tunes testing arrangements for persons entering Hong Kong and updates penalty under flight suspension mechanism

The Government announced on May 29, on the premise of maintaining the overall framework of stringent inbound prevention and control measures to guard against the importation of cases, the fine-tuned pre-departure and post-arrival nucleic acid testing arrangements applicable to persons boarding for Hong Kong from overseas places and Taiwan, and the updated penalty to be incurred by airlines for neglecting to verify the required documentation of persons boarding flights for Hong Kong and triggering the route-specific flight suspension mechanism. These will take effect from June 1. The adjustments are made so as to reduce the impact on the journeys of persons coming to Hong Kong while continuing to firmly guard against the importation of cases.

Government further relaxes social distancing measures

The Government announced on May 3 the further relaxation of social distancing measures, with a view to relaunching social and economic activities in an orderly manner. Starting from May 5, early relaxation in measures will allow catering premises to accommodate eight persons at most per table, re-opening of swimming pools, gazetted beaches, as well as water sports centres and public swimming pools under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and not wearing masks when present in country parks or when conducting strenuous physical activity in outdoor places. Starting from May 19, the second stage of relaxation in social distancing measures will be implemented as scheduled. That includes extension of the dinnertime dine-in service hours in catering premises, allowing bars/pubs as well as other scheduled premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) which are currently closed, and allowing eating and drinking in cinemas etc.

Government further relaxes social distancing measures

The Government announced on May 3 the further relaxation of social distancing measures, with a view to relaunching social and economic activities in an orderly manner. Starting from May 5, early relaxation in measures will allow catering premises to accommodate eight persons at most per table, re-opening of swimming pools, gazetted beaches, as well as water sports centres and public swimming pools under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and not wearing masks when present in country parks or when conducting strenuous physical activity in outdoor places. Starting from May 19, the second stage of relaxation in social distancing measures will be implemented as scheduled. That includes extension of the dinnertime dine-in service hours in catering premises, allowing bars/pubs as well as other scheduled premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) which are currently closed, and allowing eating and drinking in cinemas etc.

Government suitably adjusts inbound control measures on risk-based principle

The Government announced today (April 22) that non-Hong Kong residents (HKRs) will be allowed to enter Hong Kong from overseas places and the route-specific flight suspension mechanism will be suitably adjusted with effect from May 1 (Hong Kong Time), and rapid antigen tests (RATs) will be added to the "test-and-hold" arrangement at the airport. The aim is, on the premise of maintaining the strategy to guard against the importation of cases and continuing stringent quarantine measures, and as far as risks could be properly managed, to alleviate as much as possible the uncertainty of Hong Kong-bound passengers' journeys in reserving flights and designated quarantine hotels, as well as to streamline the testing and quarantine procedures upon arrival, in response to the needs of HKRs that need to return to Hong Kong as well as the strong demands from the relevant trade.

Government suitably adjusts inbound control measures on risk-based principle

The Government announced today (April 22) that non-Hong Kong residents (HKRs) will be allowed to enter Hong Kong from overseas places and the route-specific flight suspension mechanism will be suitably adjusted with effect from May 1 (Hong Kong Time), and rapid antigen tests (RATs) will be added to the "test-and-hold" arrangement at the airport. The aim is, on the premise of maintaining the strategy to guard against the importation of cases and continuing stringent quarantine measures, and as far as risks could be properly managed, to alleviate as much as possible the uncertainty of Hong Kong-bound passengers' journeys in reserving flights and designated quarantine hotels, as well as to streamline the testing and quarantine procedures upon arrival, in response to the needs of HKRs that need to return to Hong Kong as well as the strong demands from the relevant trade.