Hong Kong extends 14-Day Mandatory Quarantine until 2021

Bad news for anyone looking to visit Hong Kong in 2020. The Government of Hong Kong extended the legislation that requires persons arriving from foreign places to enter a 14-day compulsory quarantine to December 31, 2020.

(3) the expiry date of the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) is extended from September 18, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

See the press release here. For a full text of Cap. 599E , see here.

What this means to travelers

If anyone has a trip booked and was hoping that things will be back to somewhat normal in Hong Kong by fall or winter, that hope has now been dashed. If you have a booking, you should probably look into changing or canceling your trip now, unless you want to deal with the 14 day quarantine.

This is very bad news for Cathay Pacific, the flag carrier of Hong Kong, which has lost 99% of its traffic due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Furthermore, Hong Kong currently has the following inbound travel restrictions placed:

All non-Hong Kong residents arriving by air from any location other than mainland China, Macau, and Taiwan will be denied entry. Non-Hong Kong residents arriving from mainland China, Macau, or Taiwan will be denied entry if they have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days.

Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents arriving from mainland China, Macau, or Taiwan with no travel to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine.

Beginning on July 29, travelers departing from the United States or those that have visited the United States in the past 14-days must present a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test taken within 72 hours, prior to boarding a flight to Hong Kong. Travelers are also required to have a hotel reservation in Hong Kong for a 14-day quarantine. For detailed guidance, please see the Hong Kong government’s press release.

Kevin