The Government has gazetted the specifications under relevant regulations to tighten the compulsory quarantine requirements for people arriving in Hong Kong who have stayed in places outside China and restrict the boarding of those who have stayed in South Africa for Hong Kong.

It said the Secretary for Food & Health has exercised the power under relevant regulations to make specifications and notice, which will take effect from December 25.

The requirements under the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap 599C) and the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap 599E) have been tightened, requiring people arriving in Hong Kong, either via the airport or land boundary control points, who have stayed in places outside China on the day of arrival or during the 21 days before that day to undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days in designated quarantine hotels.

The requirements under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation (Cap 599H) have also been tightened and people who have stayed in South Africa, apart from the UK as announced earlier, for more than two hours in the past 21 days will not be allowed to board for Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, an updated compulsory testing notice has been made under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap 599J), which imposes compulsory testing requirements for people subject to compulsory quarantine who arrived in Hong Kong from December 2 to 23 and have stayed in the UK, as well as those subject to compulsory quarantine who arrived in Hong Kong between December 2 and 24 and have stayed in the remaining places outside China.

Apart from the requirement to undergo testing at community testing centres or designated quarantine hotels on the 19th or 20th day following their arrival, these people have to stay at their place of residence, private premises or place of quarantine specified on the quarantine order until the test result is available.