These developments come after the government announced that it would not renew eight public health emergency regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) that expire on March 31. The regulations — Cap. 599C to Cap. 599J — cover a variety of epidemic control measures, such as restrictions on inbound travellers, quarantine requirements, compulsory testing, and social-distancing measures, among others.

According to the Centre for Health Protection website, all passengers who enter Hong Kong must only undergo temperature checks upon arrival. The government also recommends that visitors conduct self-administered rapid antigen tests for the first five days after they arrive and may voluntarily report their results and health status online.

In February, Hong Kong scrapped pre-departure testing requirements for visitors from Mainland China. However, travellers from Taiwan and overseas still had to undergo either a PCR test within 48 hours of their departure to Hong Kong or a RAT within 24 hours of leaving for the city and would only be allowed to board their flights if they tested negative for the virus.

The only Covid-related regulations that will continue to be in force are Cap. 599K (for vaccines) and Cap.599L (vaccine pass). In addition, the government will only administer the fourth Covid-19 booster for free to priority groups: people aged 50 and over, people aged 18-49 with comorbidities, those aged six months and over who are immunocompromised, pregnant women, and healthcare workers.

Hong Kong has steadily dismantled its anti-epidemic restrictions on inbound travel since last year, most notably by scrapping mandatory hotel quarantine in September 2022. Since then, the SAR has ended isolation for Covid-positive patients and lifted its mask mandate, as well as other measures.

The government is now focusing on making travel to the city attractive for tourists. In February, authorities launched the Hello Hong Kong campaign to encourage tourists to visit the city, the highlight of which is a 500,000 free airline ticket giveaway. In April, the city will begin its Happy Hong Kong initiative, which will include a series of events to introduce a sea-land carnival at Victoria Harbour and a gourmet marketplace in different parts of the city.

Header image credits: Angelyn Sanjorjo via Pexels

Hong Kong scrapped several of its Covid-19 testing requirements over the past few months. In February this year, authorities stopped requiring travellers from Mainland China to provide pre-departure PCR test results to enter the SAR. Earlier this month, the Education Board said that schoolchildren do not need to take a RAT before they enter school premises.

The only Covid-19 testing mandate that remains in Hong Kong is the pre-departure RAT or PCR for overseas travellers before they depart for the city. They have the option of taking a self-administered RAT within 24 hours of their departure to Hong Kong, or undergoing a PCR test within 48 of leaving for the SAR.

Header image credits: RyanKing999 via Canva

In addition, the Macau government announced that schoolchildren and teachers do not need to wear masks during classes or extra-curricular activities, from February 27.

Hong Kong currently has a compulsory mask-wearing requirement in all outdoor and indoor public spaces, which the government recently extended until March 8. However, people can take off their masks when posing for pictures and while eating or drinking. The legislation that governs the city’s mask rule will expire on March 31 this year.

Several countries in the region have done away with outdoor mask mandates in the past few months. Most recently, Taiwan ended its rule on February 20 and people only have to wear masks in healthcare facilities and on public transport. In Japan, people must currently wear masks in crowded indoors and outdoors areas, when speaking closely with others in public, and at hospitals. Mask-wearing in Japan will be optional from March 13.

Header image credits:SOOATSIMC 223 Tsaueng TTPMRA via WikiCommons

“This policy is still there on health grounds and my colleagues in the Health Bureau have been given a very clear message as to the community aspiration to take off the mask as quickly as possible. This is high on the agenda. [The mask mandate will be lifted] Probably towards the end of this [flu] season,” said Chan.

Currently, anyone over the age of two years old in Hong Kong must wear a mask while on public transport, in paid areas of the MTR, in specified public places, and any venues included in Cap. 599F, such as restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs and clubs. The regulation that governs the mask rule, Cap. 599I, is set to expire on March 31, 2023.

Earlier this year, Chief Executive John expressed hopes that all of the city’s anti-Covid restrictions would end by the first quarter of 2023. The mask mandate is one of the few remaining measures still in force to combat the epidemic, apart from compulsory testing for schoolchildren before they enter campuses and anyone who visits hospitals or care homes.

Header image credits: LN9267 via WikiCommons

The daily RAT requirement for secondary school students who attend international schools and tutorial schools will also end on March 1.

In June 2022, the Bureau announced that all students and teaching staff had to produce negative RAT results before entering school premises. The measure was cancelled for teaching staff last month, but extended for students until February 28, 2023.

Hong Kong has scrapped most of its anti-Covid restrictions, and most recently ended the vaccination requirement for tourists and isolation period for Covid-19 patients. The only anti-epidemic measures that remain are RATs for anyone who enters hospital or care homes, and the compulsory indoor and outdoor mask-wearing rule.

Header image credits: Prostock-Studio via Canva

The CE added that travellers to Mainland China from Hong Kong will no longer have to take a pre-departure PCR test before crossing the border, from February 6. However, those who have been overseas or in Taiwan within a week of travelling to the Mainland will still need to take a PCR test within 48 hours of their departure. Children under three years old will be exempt from this measure.

In addition, travellers from Macau will no longer need a negative rapid antigen test result to enter Hong Kong. Last month, Macau scrapped the pre-departure Covid-19 test requirement for visitors from Hong Kong and introduced a buy-one-get-one-free offer for ferry tickets between the two SARs.

The daily 60,000 quota on travellers to the Mainland from Hong Kong will also end on February 6. The remaining border control points at Lok Ma Chau, Heung Yuen Wai, Lo Wu, and Sha Tau Kok (cargo only) will also reopen then.

Earlier this week, Lee said that Hong Kong has entered a new phase of anti-epidemic measures and will treat Covid-19 as an upper respiratory disease. From next Monday, the only Covid-19 restrictions that will remain in Hong Kong are the pre-departure tests for international visitors, the compulsory indoor and outdoor mask-wearing mandate, and the daily testing requirements for high-risk groups, such as schoolchildren.

Header image credits: Dltl2010 via WikiCommons

Currently, all tourists who wish to enter Hong Kong must be vaccinated with at least two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and should produce proof of a negative Covid-19 test result before they depart for the SAR.

The CE also stressed that resumption of quarantine-free travel with the Mainland is also part of the government’s plan for “a full return to normalcy”, and he hopes “to announce removing the [pre-departure] PCR requirement and the quota soon”.

Earlier this month, the borders between the SAR and the Mainland reopened, with a daily quota of 60,000 placed on travellers crossing the border via land, sea, and air. In addition, the Mainland scrapped its mandatory requirement for a pre-departure Covid-19 test to children under three years old entering from Hong Kong.

Lee also said that the government will announce a “major relaunch activity” to promote tourism in Hong Kong. Last year, the government said that it would hand out 500,000 free air tickets to travellers in 2023 to encourage visitors to come to the city after all Covid-related travel restrictions are removed.

When asked about whether the government will end the mask-wearing mandate, Lee said that he will consider scrapping the regulation once the winter flu surge has passed.

Header image credits: Cheng-en Cheng via WikiCommons

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Dr Edwin Tsui, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said that the online declaration platforms for patients who test positive on PCR or rapid antigen tests will close from January 30. He added that community isolation facilities will remain open until the end of February for those who choose to use them, and they may stay there for up to seven days.

These developments come after the CE revealed to Hong Kong Commercial Daily earlier this week his hopes for all anti-epidemic measures to be removed, including the mandatory mask-wearing rule, by the first quarter of 2023.

Hong Kong recently removed most of its anti-epidemic restrictions in December 2022, including mandatory isolation for close contacts of Covid patients, on-arrival PCR testing for inbound travellers, and the vaccine pass requirement to enter public places.

After January 30, the only anti-Covid measures that will remain are the mask-wearing rule and antigen testing for groups the government considers vulnerable, including the daily testing requirement for schoolchildren and teachers before they enter campuses.

Header image credits: LN9267 via WikiCommons

The Covid-19 testing exemption applies only to arrivals in Macau from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan. All other international arrivals must provide a negative PCR test obtained within 48 hours of their arrival in Macau.

Macau also scrapped its home isolation requirement for all arrivals in December 2022. Travellers must now only undergo a five-day health management period after they enter the city, during which they will get a yellow health code and must take rapid antigen tests every day.

However, travellers aged over three years old from Macau to Hong Kong must undergo pre-departure Covid-19 testing and may only enter if they have a negative result on either a PCR test obtained with 48 hours or a rapid antigen test administered within 24 hours of their arrival in Hong Kong. This is in line with the current testing requirements for all international arrivals in Hong Kong.

These developments come the day after the Hong Kong government announced that a maximum of 60,000 Hong Kong residents can cross over to Mainland China daily, starting January 8. However, there is no capacity limit on the number of passengers who can use the Hong Kong-Macau ferry.

Header image credits: Ngduoa Howemra via Wiki Commons

Secondary schools can resume whole-day face-to-face classes from February 1, while primary schools and kindergartens will begin full-day in-person classes on February 15. In addition, all students can take part in extra-curricular activities, irrespective of their vaccination status. However, Choi said that only schools with a certain vaccination rate will be allowed to hold whole-day classes.

Previously, the Education Bureau stated that secondary schools that achieved a 90% triple-vaccination rate among its students could continue with full-day classes after January 31, 2023. Primary schools with a 70% two-dose vaccination rate among its students began whole-day classes on December 1, while kindergartens are currently only allowed half-day classes.

There is also a respective three-dose and double-dose vaccination requirement for secondary and primary students who want to participate in extra-curricular and some mask-off activities on school premises.

Choi said that students and teaching staff must continue to take rapid antigen tests (RATs) and check their body temperature every day before they can enter school premises until January 31, 2023, after which the government will review the measure.

Header image credits: Visoot’s Images via Canva

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said that the following anti-epidemic and social-distancing restrictions will end on December 29:

1. Close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 patients will not be issued quarantine orders. They will instead receive health contacts via confirmed patients, for whom the current five-day minimum isolation period will remain.
2. There will be no more Vaccine Pass requirement to enter public places. Instead, the government will focus on vaccination efforts for the elderly and very young.
3. Inbound travellers will no longer have to undergo post-arrival tests when they enter Hong Kong. However, they must still take daily antigen tests every until Day 5 after they arrive in the city. They also still need a negative pre-departure PCR test result obtained with 48 hours or a negative antigen test result within 24 hours of entering Hong Kong.
4. Overseas arrivals no longer have to fill out a health declaration form before departing for Hong Kong.
5. All other social-distancing restrictions — including the 12-person group gathering limit, seating caps at restaurants and nightlife establishments, and minimum distances between tables at these establishments — will end.
6. There will be no more compulsory testing orders, but testing will remain free for those who have a requirement.

However, government officials said that indoor and outdoor mask-wearing mandates will remain because of the ongoing seasonal flu and potential mutations of Covid-19. In addition, the daily antigen testing mandates for schoolchildren and school staff will remain.

In addition, Lee reiterated that he hoped the border between Mainland China and Hong Kong will reopen by mid-January, 2023.

Header image credits: Peachyeung316 via Wiki Commons

In addition, there will be no more capacity limits on restaurants and nightlife venues. With the restrictions on opening hours being removed, this means that the only anti-Covid measures governing F&B and nightlife establishments in the city are the vaccine pass requirement and the per-table limits.

Dr Lee added that food and drinks will also be served at outdoor performance and sports venues, starting December 22, and that the RAT requirement for people attending banquets and local tours will be lifted.

When asked about whether the government will remove the daily RAT requirement for schoolchildren and teaching staff at schools, Lee said that they “will review this measure”, but would not make a decision at the moment because of the ongoing school holidays.

These developments come after the Hong Kong government recently removed its amber code restrictions and relaxed other anti-Covid regulations regarding tracking bracelets for patients who contract the virus and compulsory testing for premises.

Header image credits: Peachyyeung316 via Wiki Commons

This announcement comes after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s Tuesday morning press conference, during which he said that there will be no more amber code and mandatory LeaveHomeSafe scanning from December 14.

Lo explained that although confirmed Covid-19 patients no longer need to wear electronic wristbands, they must remain under isolation either at home or at a quarantine facility until their health code turns blue. He added that travellers to Mainland China and Macau will no longer have to wait at the airport and border control points for their pre-departure Covid-19 spot test results and will only need to have a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours of their trip.

However, the Secretary also said that some testing requirements will remain, such as the on-arrival and Day 2 PCR tests for inbound travellers and daily rapid antigen testing (RAT) for schoolchildren and school staff. Lo stated that the school testing measures have helped prevent “a high rate of outbreaks” among children, who the government considers a high-risk group.

Header image credits: VOA Chinese via Wiki Commons

“Starting from tomorrow, there is no longer a need to scan the LeaveHomeSafe app. But we will keep the vaccine pass requirement for certain premises. For example, [for] eating establishments will still keep the vaccine pass requirement,” said Lee.

The CE added, “We are removing the amber [health] code arrangement. That means for those confirmed cases, their code will be red and for all others not infected, their code is blue. That includes arrivals at Hong Kong. And for those with a blue code, they can engage in activities as normal.”

“We have made these two decisions because we have considered the data risks and one of the factors considered is [that] the risk brought in by imported cases is actually lower than the risk of infection in the community,” said Lee, when explaining the reasons behind these changes.

However, Lee did not mention whether the government will end the three-day medical surveillance period for international travellers. Under these regulations, travellers must undergo two post-arrival PCR tests — one at the airport and one on Day 2 after they land in the city — and take rapid antigen tests for five days after they enter the city.

Header image credits: Bkemaoe HOMA via Wiki Commons

In addition, those who contract Covid-19 and their close contacts must self-administer RATs for five days. This new five-day RAT requirement will also apply to overseas travellers who arrive in the city. However, inbound travellers must continue to undergo PCR tests at the airport upon arrival and on Day 2 after they land in the city, and get a health code as part of their three-day post-arrival medical surveillance period.

Currently, anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 in Hong Kong must isolate for a minimum of seven days. Those who are vaccinated may leave their homes, the hospital, or quarantine facility if they produce negative RAT results on two consecutive days, starting on Day 6 after they first test positive for the virus. However, those who are unvaccinated must remain under isolation for at least 14 days.

Header image credits: Jamie Lloyd via Flickr

How does the Hong Kong health code work?

The health code is combined with the vaccine pass system on the LeaveHomeSafe app (version 3.4.0 or above), but is separate from the red-and-blue code used to check whether a user has received their Covid-19 vaccinations as stipulated by the government. Users will get the following codes based on their health status:

• Red: This is for patients who contract the virus in Hong Kong and who are at community isolation facilities or approved for home quarantine. Patients with a red QR code should remain under quarantine at approved premises and may only leave once they complete their five-day-minimum isolation period.
• Blue: This is for residents in Hong Kong and visitors to the city who have not contracted Covid-19. Blue-code holders can move around the SAR with no restrictions. Once Covid-19 patients with red codes recover from the virus, they will get blue codes.

Anyone who contracts the virus can complete their isolation when they get negative rapid antigen test (RAT) results on Day 4 and Day 5 (or two consecutive days thereafter) after they declare their positive results on this government website. The applies to anyone in Hong Kong, irrespective of whether they have been vaccinated or not.

The amber code for international arrivals in Hong Kong, a measure that was in force between mid-August 2022 and mid-December 2022, is scrapped.

Which premises are covered by the Hong Kong health code?

People who get a red code cannot enter the following venues covered by the vaccine pass:

1. Restaurants
2. Shopping malls
3. Department stores
4. Supermarkets
5. Wet markets
6. Hair salons or barber shops
7. Religious establishments
8. Amusement game centres
9. Bathhouses
10. Fitness centres
11. Amusement centres
12. Places of public entertainment
13. Party rooms
14. Beauty parlours
15. Club houses
16. Nightclubs
17. Karaoke establishments
18. Mahjong-tin kau premises
19. Massage establishments
20. Sports premises
21. Swimming pools
22. Hotels or guest houses
23. Cruise ships
24. Temporary event venues

Will I get a red health code if I have recently recovered from Covid-19?

Before the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) issues an inbound traveller who tests positive for the virus a red code, it will assess whether the traveller:

• Provided a negative RAT result within 24 hours before arriving in Hong Kong.
• Declared a past infection or symptoms on their online pre-departure form.
• Provided a date of their previous infection.

The CHP will then determine whether the traveller has a recent infection, is a recovered patient, or a repositive case. If they are recovered or repositive, they will not get a red code. They will, however, still have to take their Day 2 PCR test. If the CHP determines the traveller contracted a recent infection, they will get a red health code and an isolation order.

Header image credits: WFtowemH Marsihar via WikiCommons

At a Covid-19 press briefing on Thursday, Undersecretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, announced the following changes to Hong Kong’s social distancing restrictions, which will come into effect on November 17:

1. All government-run campsites and outdoor recreational facilities will reopen.
2. Visitors to performance venues and outdoor sports premises can remove their masks to eat and drink.
3. Staff at premises such as clubhouses, mahjong parlours, religious establishments, and barbershops do not need to actively check the vaccine pass.
4. Hong Kong residents and visitors with an amber health code can enter places where the vaccine pass is not actively checked.

However, Dr Lee clarified that at places like “catering premises, bars, hotels, spas and skating rinks, which allow customers not to wear masks, and cinemas and performance venues which allow customers to eat, there will be a need for proactive inspection [of the vaccine pass].” Swimming pools, massage parlours, nightclubs, sports institutions and cruises come under this category as well, added Dr Lee.

The announcement comes after the government recently reopened barbecue pits and relaxed mask-wearing rules in certain indoor spaces so that patrons can take photographs. Starting later this month, members of tour groups who enter the city using the services of licensed travel agencies can visit theme parks, museums and temples even if they have an amber code.

Header image credits: Samuel Wong via Flickr

Currently, all inbound travellers who test negative for Covid-19 upon arrival in Hong Kong are issued an amber code that prevents them from entering crowded public places such as restaurants and tourist attractions during the first three days after their arrival in the city. Tourists who want an exemption from this rule must first provide a licensed travel agent or agency their itineraries.

These tourists must also use the LeaveHomeSafe app, adhere to vaccine pass requirements, and may only sit in partitioned areas in specific restaurants that meet the city’s anti-epidemic criteria for these tour groups. The details will be available on the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong website.

The Hong Kong government is also considering reducing the number of PCR and rapid antigen tests (RATs) for inbound travellers who are in the city for a short time. At present, testing requirements for all overseas arrivals include an on-arrival PCR test at the airport, as well as tests on Days 2, 4, and 6 after they enter the city. They must also take daily RATs until Day 7 after they arrive in Hong Kong.

Header image credits: johnlsl via Flickr