The Government will gazette the latest specifications today to impose conditions on travellers who visited France and Russia within 14 days before arriving in Hong Kong to reduce the health risk they may bring to the city.

The Food & Health Bureau said the global epidemic situation is becoming increasingly severe, noting that the daily number of new cases increased from 70,000 to 100,000 between late March and mid-May, to 160,000 to 180,000 in late June.

The figures rose to 220,000 to 290,000 in late July, and further surged to a new height of 240,000 to 320,000 in mid-September. It has remained at such a high level since then.

In view of the severe global pandemic situation, Hong Kong cannot afford to drop its guard on entry prevention and control measures, the bureau added.

The specifications under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation (Cap 599H) were made in view of the developments of the COVID-19 epidemic situation worldwide and in Hong Kong.

The Government had earlier introduced Cap 599H to impose testing and quarantine conditions on travellers coming to Hong Kong from very high-risk places.

The Secretary for Food & Health has previously published in the gazette specifications on the relevant measures applicable to Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the US.

New specifications will be gazetted to maintain the conditions imposed and to include France and Russia as specified places with effect from October 26.

Travellers who have stayed in the specified places 14 days before arriving in Hong Kong must provide documents showing they tested negative for COVID-19 and their reservation for a hotel in Hong Kong.

Any traveller coming to Hong Kong who fails to comply with the requirement to provide information is liable to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for six months.