Category: travel

HK-Singapore Air Travel Bubble to Begin on 26 May

After many false starts the first local ‘Air Travel Bubble’ opens on the 26 May when HongKongers will be able to travel quarantine-free to Singapore.

There are lots of rules and qualifications, see below, but amongst the many rules is nothing about what happens to HongKongers in Singapore if the travel bubble is suspended. And once the bubble is suspended, the restart conditions are quite onerous. So if you travel, be prepared… For the latest information www.tourism.gov.hk/travelbubble

Hopefully, if the bubble proves successful, it will lead to similar arrangements with New Zealand and Australia in the coming months. No practical suggestions seem to have been made as to when or how HongKongers will be able to visit Macau any time soon.

Objective Air Travel Bubble

No restrictions on travel purposes.

Exemption from compulsory quarantine requirement / Stay-Home Notice.

No restrictions on itineraries.

Eligibility

Any person currently in Hong Kong and Singapore, irrespective of his/her nationality.

Any person with no travel history to any place other than Singapore or Hong Kong in the last 14 days prior to departure.
Note: any compulsory quarantine / Stay-Home Notice periods in Hong Kong or Singapore arising from the traveller’s last visit outside Hong Kong or Singapore would not count towards that 14-day period.

Negative result of COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nucleic acid test by recognised testing institutions with a specimen collected within 72 hours prior to departure.

Hong Kong passport holders can only take an ATB flight at least 14 days after they have had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Travel on ‘Designated Flights’.

Designated Flight Arrangements

From 26 May to 9 June, 2021:
Hong Kong to Singapore: 1 flight per day, with 200 travellers per flight Singapore to Hong Kong: 1 flight per day, with 200 travellers per flight 

From 10 June, 2021 onwards:
Hong Kong to Singapore: 2 flights per day, with 200 travellers per flight. Singapore to Hong Kong: 2 flights per day, with 200 travellers per flight.

Health Protection Measure

Testing Requirements:
Travellers are required to take mutually recognised COVID-19 PCR nucleic acid tests with a specimen collected within 72 hours prior to departure from Hong Kong and Singapore.

Travellers arriving in Hong Kong and Singapore are required to take a PCR nucleic acid test again at the airport.

Designated Flights:
Only carry ATB travellers, but not transit nor non-ATB travellers.

Designated lane upon arrival in Hong Kong:
There is a designated lane at Hong Kong International Airport for ATB travellers to take post-arrival COVID-19 tests and proceed through immigration.

Mechanism to Adjust or Suspend ATB:
A change in the epidemic situation in Hong Kong and Singapore may trigger the adjustment or suspension of ATB flights:
If the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked local COVID-19 cases is more than five for either Singapore or Hong Kong, the ATB arrangements will be suspended after two days for a two-week period.

The ATB arrangements can resume on the next day after fulfilling the following two criteria:
(i) the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked local COVID- 19 cases for both Hong Kong and Singapore does not exceed five on the last day of the 14-day suspension period or any subsequent day; and

(ii) after criterion (i) is met, subsequently there have to be three consecutive days with the daily number of unlinked local COVID-19 cases for both Hong Kong and Singapore not exceeding three, and the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked local COVID-19 cases on the third day in both places does not exceed five.

Other Requirements for ATB Travel: HK to Singapore
(for all travellers)

Within 3 days prior to arrival in Singapore, fill in and submit SG Arrival Card.

Book a post-arrival PCR nucleic acid test before departure. Upon arrival, take the PCR nucleic acid test at the airport, then go to the declared place of accommodation5 by private transportation, taxis or private hire cars, and stay thereat for isolation until receipt of a negative test result before leaving the accommodation and commencing itineraries
(for travellers who are non-Singapore citizens, and at the same time, non-Permanent Residents or non- Long-Term Pass holders)
Apply for an Air Travel Pass 7 to 30 days prior to departure

Download the TraceTogether mobile app, register and keep the app activated on their mobile devices during their stay in Singapore, and retain the app and its records for 14 days subsequent to departure from Singapore

Other Requirements for ATB Travel: Singapore to HK

Fill in and submit health declaration by using the online Health & Quarantine Information Declaration Form within 48 hours prior to arrival in Hong Kong, and get the relevant QR code.

Book a post-arrival PCR nucleic acid test before departure. Upon arrival, take the PCR nucleic acid test through the designated lane for ATB travellers at the airport, and only leave the airport and start itineraries after receiving a negative test result.

Download the LeaveHomeSafe (LHS) mobile app, and scan the LHS QR codes displayed at relevant premises during their stay in Hong Kong, as well as retain the app and its records for 31 days subsequent to departure from Hong Kong.

Useful Links:

HongKong’s designated ATB: www.tourism.gov.hk/travelbubble

Health & Quarantine Information Declaration Form for arrival in Hong Kong: www.chp.gov.hk/hdf

Local COVID-19 testing institutions recognised by the Hong Kong SAR Government: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf

LeaveHomeSafemobileapp: www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk

Singapore’s designated ATB website Safe Travel Lanes: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg 

Singapore Trace Together mobile app: www.tracetogether.gov.sg 

Singapore Arrival Card: https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard

images: singapore tourism

HK Express Flycation

Staycations are very popular these days, but how about a ‘flycation’?

For those who are missing flying HK Express has announced a local ‘flight to nowhere’. Known as #UOFlycation –  the new 1.5-hour flight will circle the city offering a different view of the many beautiful areas of Hong Kong that we catch a glimpse of on regular arriving or departing flights.

#UOFlycation launches in November but no details of prices or schedules have been announced as yet

UK Added To Wuhan Virus High Risk Travel Countries

From 1 October, 2020 the UK will become a ‘High Risk’ country and people flying into Hong Kong from the UK will need to provide a -ve COVID test and quarantine in a hotel.

The UK becomes the tenth High Risk country listed under Cap 599H,  joining Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa and the United States of America.

The travel requirements under Cap599H are:

A traveller who, on the day on which the traveller boarded a civil aviation aircraft that arrives at, or is about to arrive at Hong Kong (specified aircraft), or during the 14 days before that day, has stayed in one of the aforementioned specified places must provide the following documents:

(1) A test report in English or Chinese issued by a laboratory or healthcare institution bearing the name of the relevant traveller identical to that in his or her valid travel document to show that:

(a) the relevant traveller underwent a nucleic acid test for COVID-19, the sample for which was taken from the relevant traveller within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the specified aircraft;

(b) the test conducted on the sample is a nucleic acid test for COVID-19; and

(c) the result of the test is that the relevant traveller was tested negative for COVID-19; and

(2) If the relevant report is not in English or Chinese or does not contain all of the above information, a written confirmation in English or Chinese issued by the laboratory or healthcare institution bearing the name of the relevant traveller identical to that in his or her valid travel document and setting out all of the above information. The said written confirmation should be presented together with the test report; and

(3) Documentary proof in English or Chinese to show that the laboratory or healthcare institution is ISO 15189 accredited or is recognised or approved by the relevant authority of the government of the place in which the laboratory or healthcare institution is located; and

(4) The relevant traveller has confirmation in English or Chinese of room reservation in a hotel in Hong Kong for not less than 14 days starting on the day of the arrival of the relevant traveller in Hong Kong.

If a traveller coming to Hong Kong fails to comply with a requirement to provide information, or knowingly or recklessly provides any information that is false or misleading in a material particular, he or she is liable on conviction to the maximum penalty of a fine at level 3 ($10,000) and imprisonment for six months.

Big Buddha Renovations

The Big Buddha, or to give it it’s official name the Tian Tan Giant Buddha, at the Po Lin Monastery will be closed for maintenance and repair work from the 2 June 2020.

The repairs involve the cleaning of the bronze statue, which opened in 1989, to remove the oxidation layer and pollutants. During the maintenance, the area around the statue will be closed to the public but the monastery and religious ceremonies will continue as usual and visitors are welcome.

Image: Po Lin Monastery

Entry Restrictions on Non-Hong Kong Residents Extended

The Hong Kong government today (6 April, 2020) extended, until further notice, the entry restrictions on non-Hong Kong residents arriving by plane.

All transit at Hong Kong International Airport will continue to be suspended until further notice.

The entry restrictions, which came into effect on the 25 March 2020, were announced by the Government on 23  March with the aim of reducing imported cases of the Wuhan virus know as COVID-19:

• All non-Hong Kong residents coming from overseas countries and regions by plane will be denied entry to Hong Kong;
• Non-Hong Kong residents coming from the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan will be denied entry to Hong Kong if they have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days;
• All transit services at Hong Kong International Airport will be suspended;
• All travellers coming from Macao and Taiwan, including Hong Kong and non-Hong Kong residents, will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine, which is the same as the arrangements for people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland.

The entry restriction and suspension of transit services at the airport were at the time to be implemented tentatively for 14 days, ending on 7 April, 2020.

Exemptions to the above restrictions include:

• Crew members of aircraft who need to commute to and from foreign places in performance of necessary duties or crew members of goods vessels;
• Government officials carrying out government duties including personnel of consular posts;
• Personnel engaged in anti-epidemic work endorsed by the HKSAR Government;
• Spouses and minor children of Hong Kong residents.

All entrants to Hong Kong must complete 14-days compulsory quarantine on arrival.

Read the government press release https://t.co/WW8NKVLBqB?amp=1

More information can be found on the government’s dedicated website www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Red Outbound Travel Alert for Europe

The Hong Kong government today issued a Red Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for 26 European countries. The alert warns against all non-essential travel to countries in the Shengen area, the part of Europe covered by an open-border travel arrangement.

“In view of the health risks arising from the outbreak of the COVID-19 in Europe, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (March 13) issued the Red Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) on certain European countries (Schengen Area), including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Principality of Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.”

The Red OTA urges members of the public planning to travel to the aforementioned countries to adjust travel plans and avoid non-essential travel.

After returning to Hong Kong travelers should consult a doctor promptly if experiencing a fever or other COVID-19 symptoms, and wear a surgical mask until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong.

More information can be found on the government’s dedicated website www.coronavirus.gov.hk

Where to Access Coronavirus News Without a Paywall

When it comes to coronavirus news / COVID-19, there is a mass of misinformation and charlatans looking to profit from the suffering of others.

Many of the media sources you might trust are behind paywalls – journalism after all costs money – with limited free articles.

However because of the seriousness and global nature of the pandemic many news outlets have made their COVID-19 news free to access. Here is list of major outlets with free updates and articles:

The New York Times is offering its COVID-19 coverage for free.

The Washington Post has a free email newsletter for coronavirus-related news. All articles linked in the newsletter are free.

The Los Angeles Times coronavirus liveblog is available for free.

The Wall Street Journal has created a free section for coronavirus articles.

The Atlantic is offering all coronavirus-related articles for free.

The Star is labeling free articles related to the coronavirus with a red “free digital access” label.

The Guardian has no paywall.

BBC has no paywall

Associated Press

STAT, which covers health and medicine, is offering its coronavirus coverage for free.

Compulsory Quarantine For Inbound Travellers

The Department of Health announced that from 14 March compulsory quarantine orders, under the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A), will be enforced against people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to Italy, France, Germany, Japan and Spain in the past 14 days, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents.

The new orders require people to stay in a Quarantine Centre for the duration of their quarantine.

More information can be found on the government’s dedicated website www.coronavirus.gov.hk