The Government today announced that crew change arrangements for passenger vessels and goods vessels without a cargo operation in Hong Kong would be suspended from July 29 until the local epidemic situation is contained.

For goods vessels coming to Hong Kong for cargo operations, new exemption conditions will be imposed and the existing requirements will be tightened, also effective from July 29, it added.

All crew members coming to Hong Kong for cargo operations should remain onboard during their vessel's stay in Hong Kong waters and should not go ashore.

Outgoing crew members of these vessels who have completed their service onboard will be required to remain on the vessels during their stay in Hong Kong until transport is arranged for them to travel directly to the airport to board flights for repatriation to their home countries to avoid contact with the local community.

Incoming crew members arriving at the airport on flights from other places should possess a negative nucleic acid test result for COVID-19 conducted at an ISO 15189-accredited laboratory or one recognised by the government where the laboratory is located, with the specimen collected within 48 hours before they depart their places of origin for entering Hong Kong.

Crew members who do not possess the test results will be denied entry. They should also board the vessels immediately and directly upon arrival in Hong Kong and should not stay in public places.

Point-to-point transfers should be arranged by the shipping companies/agents for crew members to travel to and from the vessels. Use of public transport which will serve the general public at the same time is prohibited, and crew members should wear masks during the entire journey.

Shipping companies/agents which fail to comply with these conditions will be denied crew change arrangements in Hong Kong.

For air crew travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland, Macau, Taiwan or foreign places, they all must have a negative nucleic acid test result for COVID-19 done at an ISO 15189-accredited laboratory or one recognised by the government where the laboratory is located, with the specimen collected within 48 hours prior to boarding the flight to Hong Kong.

Otherwise, the air crew must take a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and wait for the test results there or at any other designated location.

Airlines must arrange point-to-point transport for the air crew to travel between the HKIA and their place of accommodation and prohibit their use of public transport which serves the general public at the same time.

Airlines should also ensure their air crew will self-isolate at a designated location in accordance with Department of Health's requirements. Air crew should strictly observe the principle of minimising contact with the local community during their stay in Hong Kong.

Other exempted people arriving in Hong Kong at the HKIA will also be subject to the tightened testing and quarantine arrangements.

All exempted people must have a negative nucleic acid test result for COVID-19 done at an ISO15189-accredited laboratory or one recognised by the government where the laboratory is located, with the specimen collected within 48 hours prior to boarding the flight to Hong Kong.

Otherwise, they must take a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 at the TSCC upon arrival at the airport and wait for the results there, or self-isolate at a designated location for 48 hours.

Under Secretary for Food & Health Dr Chui Tak-yi told a press briefing that well before the tightened testing and quarantine arrangements for sea crew were announced today, certain measures were already in place.

“Considering the measures towards sea crew, I think there were already some new or enhanced tightened measures in early to mid-July.

“For example, requiring testing of air crew arriving in Hong Kong for a test and also compulsory pre-boarding test for sea crew. So these have already been implemented since early to mid-July.”

Dr Chui added that the tightened measures followed a government review of the epidemic situation and the need to act in a timely manner.