From March 29, people travelling to the Mainland via Hong Kong International Airport will be subject to an additional rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid test before they check in for flights.

Announcing the special COVID-19 testing arrangement at the airport today, the Government said it aims to further prevent the exportation of local COVID-19 cases and support the Mainland's anti-epidemic efforts.

Under the new arrangement, people travelling to the Mainland and Macau by air are required to hold a negative result of the additional rapid nucleic acid test when they check in for the flights.

The additional test must be conducted at the designated testing venue at the airport within eight hours prior to the flight's scheduled departure time.

However, the relevant test result cannot replace the proof of a negative result of any self-paid nucleic acid test as currently required by the Mainland and Macau.

The Government will arrange a testing institution to provide the special testing service for free 24 hours daily. Outbound travellers should make reservations for the testing service through the institution's website.

The rapid PCR-based nucleic acid test will take about two to three hours, while the check-in process by airline companies generally begins two to three hours prior to the flight's scheduled departure time.

Outbound travellers are advised to arrive at the airport at least five to six hours prior to the scheduled departure time to undergo testing so as to avoid any delay to their journey.

Separately, the Government announced earlier that the place-specific flight suspension mechanism for nine countries will be lifted from April 1.

All Hong Kong residents who have stayed in overseas places can board flights for Hong Kong under the latest boarding, quarantine and testing arrangements from that day.

For the route-specific flight suspension mechanism, the Government said it will continue to implement the measure based on the streamlined triggering criteria.

If there are three or more passengers who test positive for COVID-19 by arrival test, or at least one passenger who tests positive by arrival test and one passenger who failed to comply with the requirements specified under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation (Cap 599H) on the same flight, the airline's passenger flights of that route from the same origin place will be prohibited from landing in Hong Kong for seven days.