The second batch of Hong Kong residents stranded in India will take a special flight arranged by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning at the earliest.

The flight, tentatively scheduled to depart from Mumbai, will assist Hong Kong residents located in Mumbai and those in its surrounding areas with special needs such as people with illness, pregnant women, children as well as family members travelling with them.

Over the past few days, the Immigration Department contacted assistance seekers who meet these circumstances to confirm their wishes to take the flight, and to obtain their personal particulars for applying for travel permission from the local government.

It is initially estimated that the flight will carry about 300 people and the cost will be borne by the passengers.

Upon arrival in Hong Kong, the returnees will proceed to the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at AsiaWorld-Expo for compulsory COVID-19 testing.

After their deep throat saliva samples are collected, the returnees will be transferred to the quarantine centre at Chun Yeung Estate for a 14-day compulsory quarantine.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Government has banned all international flight movements since late March.

As at June 1, the Immigration Department has successfully contacted about 4,800 Hong Kong residents stranded in India. The first batch of about 250 residents stranded there returned to Hong Kong on May 18 on a chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong SAR Government from New Delhi.

There are still many Hong Kong residents in different areas of India. Considering the traffic restrictions still in place across India, and having regard to the quarantine arrangement for the returnees and the capacities of relevant facilities, the Hong Kong SAR Government will assist them in returning to Hong Kong in an orderly manner in batches subject to the circumstances.