Hong Kong has further relaxed its Covid-19 restrictions, following a similar move by mainland China.
From tomorrow (Thursday December 29), travellers will no longer have to take a PCR test on arrival into Hong Kong.
In addition the so-called vaccine pass scheme – which limited access to public venues including restaurants, gyms and cinemas for the unvaccinated – is also being scrapped, although the wearing of masks in public spaces will remain compulsory.
Unvaccinated non-residents over the age of 12 years will still be denied entry to the Chinese special administrative region, and all travellers must take a PCR or rapid antigen test within 24 hours before departure for Hong Kong.
The latest easing of restrictions follows the scrapping of hotel quarantine on arrival in September, and the dropping of the ‘0+3’ regime (which prevented visitors from entering restaurants, bars and other establishments during the first three days of stay) earlier this month.
Hong Kong scraps amber health code, easing restrictions on international arrivals
This week mainland China also announced plans to remove mandatory quarantine for travellers arriving from overseas from next month.
From January 8, 2023 visitors will no longer be required to quarantine, although they will still have to provide proof of a negative PCR test 48 hours before departure for the country, and the wearing of masks on flights bound for China will remain compulsory.
Chinese citizens will be allowed to apply for visas to travel overseas from next month.
China to remove Covid quarantine rules for inbound travellers from January 8
China is in the midst of a surge in Covid cases, and the decision to relax travel rules has led countries including the US to consider imposing new Covid restrictions on Chinese arrivals.
