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SINGAPORE / HONG KONG – Singapore travelers will be able to travel to Hong Kong for pleasure starting on November 22, in the first air travel bubble deal for the Republic since border restrictions were imposed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The plan will start with one flight per day to each city with a quota of 200 travelers per flight, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung announced in Singapore on Wednesday (November 11).
This will be increased to two daily flights starting on December 7.
The deal will be suspended for two weeks if the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unrelated Covid-19 cases exceeds five in Singapore or Hong Kong, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement.
As part of the air travel bubble, travelers between Singapore and Hong Kong will have to undergo Covid-19 tests, rather than receive quarantine notices or stay at home.
There will be no restrictions on the purpose of the trip and a controlled itinerary will not be necessary.
But travelers must meet eligibility criteria and comply with current border control measures and public health requirements of both cities, the CAAS said.
All travelers must test negative for a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 72 hours before their scheduled departure.
Upon arrival in Hong Kong, travelers from Singapore will need to take another Covid-19 test and stay at the airport until the results are confirmed. This could take up to four hours, Ong said.
There is no such requirement for Hong Kong travelers coming here.
When asked why, Mr. Ong said that the scheme “is not designed to be symmetrical” and should allow flexibility within their own territories.
Singapore, for example, requires travelers to download the TraceTogether contact tracking app and apply for an Air Travel Pass.
Negotiations between Singapore and Hong Kong concluded earlier this week.
CAAS said: “Good progress in containing the spread of Covid-19 in Singapore and Hong Kong has given us the confidence to gradually reopen our borders, with safeguards to ensure our public health and safety,” he said.
Mr. Ong pointed out that the air traffic bubble allows Singapore and Hong Kong to open their borders in a controlled manner, maintaining security in both societies.
“While we may be starting small, this is an important step forward. I have no doubt that both Singapore and Hong Kong will fully cooperate to make this plan work,” he said.
Mr. Ong added that this air travel bubble will be a useful reference for other countries and regions that have controlled the epidemic and are contemplating opening their borders.
The agreement was first announced in the middle of last month, allowing people to travel between the two locations without the need to be quarantined, but subject to conditions such as negative testing for Covid-19.
In a separate briefing in Hong Kong, Trade and Economic Development Secretary Edward Yau said that the test at Hong Kong International Airport that visitors arriving in the city must undergo will cost HK $ 499 ( $ 87).
He added: “This is the first air travel bubble for Hong Kong. Not only is it important for cross-border travel between the two locations, but it also reflects the government’s hope to progressively restore the city’s economic activities amid the long battle against Covid-19. “
Professor Sophia Chan, secretary of health, noted that Covid-19 incidence rates remain low in the city.
As of Tuesday, there were a total of 5,389 confirmed cases, including 108 deaths.
The seven-day average of local, untraceable cases through Tuesday has risen to 0.6 from 0.3 earlier in the month. The seven-day average of local cases increased in the same period from 0.4 to 1.1.
“We see a rebound in the number of local cases. We have to be vigilant. If we let our guard down, there could be another outbreak, which will be the fourth outbreak.
“Along with seasonal winter flu, the situation may be more serious,” warned Professor Chan.
The third wave of the pandemic had swept through the city in late July, prompting the most severe restrictions, such as limiting public gatherings to two and limiting dining room services. The third wave only subsided in September when the rules were relaxed again.
Currently, the public meeting limit is four. Restaurants are operating at 75 percent capacity and the number of diners at each table is capped at six, while bars and pubs reopen and each table seats four.
Hong Kong is the 10th place with which Singapore has made special travel arrangements.
In addition to air transport bubbles, there are also other schemes, such as bilateral greenway agreements, which are for essential business and official travel.
Unilateral border openings, which are unilateral, also safely remove Singapore’s border restrictions and welcome travelers from certain countries and regions.
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