Voice of America
23 Sep 2022, 16:05 GMT+10
HONG KONG - Hong Kong said it will scrap its controversial COVID-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals beginning Monday, more than 2.5 years after it was first implemented, in a long-awaited move for many residents and businesses in the financial hub.
All international arrivals will be able to return home or to accommodation of their choice but will have to self-monitor for three days after entering the Chinese special administrative hub.
They will be allowed to go to work or school but will not be allowed to enter bars or restaurants for the period. A preflight PCR test which was required for travelers to Hong Kong 48 hours before flying will be replaced by a rapid antigen test.
The former British colony is a global outlier outside mainland China in imposing hotel quarantine for international arrivals, in line with the country's 'dynamic zero' COVID strategy.
Business groups, diplomats and many residents have slammed the city's COVID-19 rules, saying they threaten Hong Kong's competitiveness and standing as a global financial center.
All international arrivals currently spend three days in a self-paid hotel followed by four days of self-monitoring during which they are allowed to move around the city. Hotel quarantine was as much as three weeks before being gradually eased earlier this year.
The rules have weighed on Hong Kong's economy since early 2020 and fueled an exodus of both expats and local families. Some 113,000 people have left since mid 2021, according to government figures.
Scores of flights have stopped operating to and from Hong Kong, which used to be one of the world's busiest and most efficient airports.
The city has lost its position as a global aviation hub due to China's zero-COVID policy, the head of airlines group IATA said this week.
Scores of events have been canceled or postponed, although Hong Kong is planning to host a major finance conference and the international Rugby Sevens in November.
Bankers have said quarantine-free travel is a precondition for attending the conference.
Both events have been widely seen as a bid to show that Hong Kong can resume business as normal.
Rival financial hub Singapore is hosting a slew of high-profile conferences this month that has seen business for hotels and restaurants boom, while Taiwan and Japan announced this week an easing of COVID-19 restrictions for international travelers set to take effect in October.
Hong Kong has reported more than 1.7 million COVID infections and 9,934 deaths since the pandemic began.
Get a daily dose of Birmingham News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Birmingham News.
More InformationOTTAWA, Canada: With Canada Post struggling to maintain operations amid labour unrest, rivals like FedEx and UPS are stepping in to...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. and global markets showed a mixed performance in Tuesday's trading session, with some indices edging higher...
PARIS, France: French military and intelligence officials have accused China of orchestrating a covert campaign to damage the reputation...
NEW DELHI, India: Birkenstock is stepping up its efforts to protect its iconic sandals in India, as local legal representatives conducted...
HONG KONG: China has fired back at the European Union in an escalating trade dispute by imposing new restrictions on medical device...
NEW YORK, New York - Monday's trading session saw mixed performances across U.S. and global markets, with several major indices posting...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has made public a visa decision that would usually be kept private. It did this to send...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
The delay adds yet another twist to Trump's original 90 deals in 90 days promise -- so far yielding only two vague trade agreements...
Los Angeles [US], July 9 (ANI): 'Bridgerton' actress Simone Ashley has joined the cast of 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' according to Deadline....
The European Union is edging closer to finally adopting its latest sanctions package, the 18th since the full-scale Russian invasion...
(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images) Harris English may have to face the next two critical tournaments in the United Kingdom...