Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attends the press conference of the Anti-epidemic Command and Coordination Group in Central Government Office on Aug 8, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Monday it would shorten the COVID-19 hotel quarantine period for all arrivals to three days from seven, taking another step in slowly unwinding stringent pandemic rules.
The measures will be effective from Friday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, told a press conference.
Arrivals will need to self monitor for a further four days, during which they will be forbidden to enter such premises as restaurants and bars.
Arrivals will need to self monitor for a further four days, during which they will be forbidden to enter such premises as restaurants and bars
"We need to balance between people's livelihood and the competitiveness of Hong Kong to give the community maximum momentum and economic vitality," Lee said.
People in quarantine will be issued a red code on a government mandated app. This will change to a yellow code once they leave quarantine, signifying they may not enter crowded premises.
ALSO READ: HK sees 4,274 new COVID-19 infections, five deaths
Quarantine was formerly as long as three weeks. Currently, all arrivals must spend at least a week in hotel quarantine and comply with frequent testing orders, provide faecal samples for babies and fill out multiple forms.
The city's boundary has been almost completely sealed since 2020, with international arrivals facing tough quarantine and testing protocols.
Lee has pledged to reconnect the HKSAR with the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world. He suspended a rule in July that banned individual flights if they brought in passengers infected with the coronavirus, saying it caused unnecessary trouble and inconvenience for residents.
READ MORE: Fresh cases push HK's COVID-19 tally past 5,000 mark
Shares in flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways leapt as much as 3.5 percent after the announcement on Monday to HK$8.77, the biggest daily percentage rise since June 28.
Hong Kong's popular international Rugby Sevens event will take place November 4-6 for the first time in more than three years. It was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of pandemic measures.
The tournament, which is a draw for international visitors, is meant to coincide with a major banking conference that month to be attended by top global executives and will be a sign that Hong Kong can resume business as normal.
(From left) Deputy Secretary for Health (Special Duties) Vincent Fung; Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau; Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu; Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong; and Deputy Government Chief Information Officer Tony Wong attend the press conference of the Anti-epidemic Command and Coordination Group in Central Government Office on Aug 8, 2022. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)