Inbound travel rules maintained: CE

May 24, 2022

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:

Because the local (COVID-19) infections are kept very low now, the imported cases account for a rather significant share of the total caseload. And on top of that, we are seeing different variants under (the Omicron sublineage) BA.2, so we have to be extremely careful in implementing the restrictions on border controls. 

I would say, at this point in time, that it is very unlikely that during my term, there will be more relaxations on border controls. 

In other words, we will still have the hotel quarantine, we will still require vaccination before a passenger can board a plane to Hong Kong, and we will still impose the test-and-hold (arrangement), whether at the airport or at a hotel, for a PCR (polymerase chain reaction nucleic acid) test in order to keep Hong Kong safe.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today said it is very unlikely that the Government will relax its inbound travel restrictions before the end of June.

Ahead of today’s Executive Council meeting in the morning, Mrs Lam pointed out that while the number of local COVID-19 cases is now very low, imported cases account for a significant share of the total caseload.

“On top of that, we are seeing different variants under (the Omicron sublineage) BA.2, so we have to be extremely careful in implementing the restrictions on border controls.

“We will still have the hotel quarantine, we will still require vaccination before a passenger can board a plane to Hong Kong, and we will still impose the test-and-hold arrangement, whether at the airport or at a hotel, for a polymerase chain reaction nucleic acid test in order to keep Hong Kong safe.”

Noting that the Government will implement the third stage of the vaccine pass arrangement on May 31, the Chief Executive called on citizens to get the third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves and facilitate their access to specified premises by then.

Meanwhile, as a gatekeeping measure, the daily rapid antigen test requirement for students and school staff will be maintained until late June, she added.