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Hong Kong residents on mainland China will be able to return to the city from November without being quarantined, Executive Director Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor revealed on Tuesday, saying the travel bubble with Singapore is also expected to continue the next month.
But amid the worsening Covid-19 situation in Europe, Lam said Belgium had been added to the city’s list of high-risk countries, and that Spain and Italy could soon follow.
Speaking ahead of his weekly Executive Council meeting, Lam said that those returning from the mainland would be exempt from any quarantine, but that the numbers would be subject to a quota agreement because only two border crossings would be reopened.
“It’s a good start,” Lam said. “We only have the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Shenzhen Bay checkpoints in operation, which means that the number of Hong Kong residents allowed to return will be restricted. The border will be reopened in an orderly manner. “
Lam confirmed that the travel bubble with Singapore would allow people to move between the two cities without having to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine imposed on arrivals from other destinations due to the coronavirus.
In Hong Kong, all but three border checkpoints have been closed since February and all visitors from China, Macao and Taiwan have had to go through mandatory quarantine at a designated location or at home. Almost all non-residents are prohibited from flying to Hong Kong.
“Singapore and Hong Kong have had similar success in containing the coronavirus,” Lam said. “Regarding cross-border travel to China, mutual consent is needed and we are technically ready.”
Singapore recorded three new Covid-19 cases on Monday, while Hong Kong had eight. Overall, Singapore’s total number of cases is about 57,000, while Hong Kong had 5,303 as of Monday.
[[nid:481121]]Lam said there were 47 cases in Hong Kong last week, 90 percent of which were imported.
Travelers will have to prove negative for the virus, but no restrictions will be placed on the purpose of travel.
Hong Kong also hoped to reopen more of its border with the mainland, but that needed the cooperation of officials from both sides, Lam said. The Executive Director acknowledged the prayers of the tourism industry for the return of visitors.
“We are working very hard and listening to the difficult situation from stakeholders in the travel industry,” he said.
On Monday, some tourism agents warned that at least 6,000 jobs could be lost in the coming months if the border is not reopened soon.
Tourist arrivals to Hong Kong fell 92.4 percent to 3.55 million in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year.
Before Belgium, there were already 13 countries, including France, Russia, India and the United States, on the list.
People arriving from those locations must test negative for the Covid-19 test before arriving in Hong Kong and reserve a hotel room in the city for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
[[nid:505427]]Lam said the Airport Authority would begin testing a rapid coronavirus test at Hong Kong International Airport this week. At the moment, travelers are forced to wait up to eight hours, or even overnight, for a test result.
“We will evaluate the effectiveness of the rapid virus test and see if it can be widely used in the future, especially for arriving travelers,” Lam said.
Four test centers would also be established in the city for faster mobilization of testing services if there were outbreaks in specific groups or areas, Lam said, and would be established on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories East and New Territories. West.
The public could also use them to get tested before traveling, but they would have to pay for one.
For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit here.
This article was first published in South China morning post.
