The Hong Kong government has tightened social distancing regulations in a bid to curb the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the territory. Now that the infection numbers have decreased, the government has relaxed some of these rules, which cover a wide range of social activities, such as travel, dining out, and outdoor activities, among others. Read on to know everything that you can and can’t do under the latest measures.
Rules for travelling to and from Hong Kong
There are no restrictions on outbound travel. As far as nearby travel goes, all Hong Kong residents can enter Macau if they haven’t travelled anywhere outside of mainland China in the last 14 days. Foreign nationals holding residence permits can enter Macau from Hong Kong if they haven’t travelled outside China in the last 21 days. (All travellers must quarantine for 14 days.) Also, all vaccinated travellers from Hong Kong can enter Singapore quarantine-free starting February 25 as part of Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane program.
Hong Kong has recently eased travel restrictions for inbound travellers. From May 1, non-Hong Kong residents can enter the SAR under the same conditions as residents who return to the city. This means that they must be:
- Fully vaccinated.
- Have a confirmed booking at a designated quarantine hotels (DQHs) for a minimum of 7 days.
- Produce a negative PCR test result within 48 hours of their departure to Hong Kong.
- Undergo a PCR test and a rapid antigen test upon arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport.
- Use designated transportation to get to their DQH.
- Undergo RATs daily for Covid-19 and PCR tests on Days 5 and 12 after their arrival into Hong Kong.
If travellers test positive for Covid-19 upon arrival or on Day 5 or Day 12 after their arrival into the SAR, they will be transferred to an isolation facility based on the severity of their symptoms.
Do I still have to wear a mask in Hong Kong?
Yes, it is still mandatory to wear a mask in most public places in Hong Kong. Anyone over the age of two must wear a mask when they take public transport, are in a paid area of the MTR, or are present at any public place. However, you do not have to wear a mask when eating at a restaurant, at country parks, while jogging or exercising outdoors, or while exercising at outdoor sports premises.
Students must wear masks during class, but those who have been vaccinated can remove them for extracurricular activities such as sports and music lessons.
Can I meet people in public?
No more than four people can gather in public. There is an exemption for family members who live in the same household. Other exceptions include public gatherings for transportation purposes, groups performing any governmental function, groups gathering within hospital and healthcare facilities, court proceedings, and funerals and any other occasions for mourning.
Can I invite friends and family to my home?
The two-household limit on private gatherings under Cap. 599G will be lifted on April 21. From that date, Hongkongers can visit family and friends and have people over at their homes without any restrictions.
Can I enter Hong Kong International Airport if I’m not flying?
If you don’t have a ticket or boarding pass, you need to be vaccinated to enter the airport to say goodbye to friends and family, according to the requirements of the vaccine pass scheme.
Can I go to the office?
Employees are allowed to go to their offices for work. However, the government encourages employers to implement work-from-home measures during the Omicron outbreak.
Are there any restrictions on public transit?
There are no restrictions on the number of people who can take public transport, the MTR, or taxis. Public transport is also not covered by the vaccine pass scheme. The wait times on MTR trains will return to pre-fifth wave levels starting April 19, along with the services of the light rail and MTR buses. The MTR has also added more trains between 6am and 7am since schools have reopened and the Hong Kong Diploma for Secondary Education (HKDSE) will begin on April 22.
Franchised bus companies – including Kowloon Motor Bus Company (KMB), New World First Bus and Citybus, Long Win Bus, and New Lantao Bus – have resumed the services of primary and supplementary service routes (recreational routes that only operate during weekends and overnight bus services).
Are schools open?
All kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and tutorial schools will reopen for half-day classes in a phased manner, starting April 19.
- Secondary schools can resume face-to-face classes in stages after the Hong Kong Diploma for Secondary Education (HKDSE) core subject exams have been conducted. Students can start returning to school form-wise after May 3 and must all be in school by May 10.
- Primary schools can resume half-day in-person classes starting with the older classes on April 19, followed by whole-school resumption by May 3.
- Kindergartens will reopen in three phases: one-third of students will return to school starting May 3, followed by a one-third increase every week until May 16.
- Special needs schools and international schools can begin resuming classes from April 19 and will be given flexibility in deciding how they will reopen.
- Tutorial schools can resume half-day face-to-face classes by May 4.
All teaching and non-teaching staff at schools, people who provide on-campus services, and visitors must have a valid vaccine pass to enter school campuses. This requirement does not apply to students. All teaching staff and students must also get a negative RAT result every day before entering school premises.
Can I eat at my favourite restaurants?
Starting April 21, restaurants are allowed to serve customers until 10pm. Starting May 5, they can seat up to eight diners per table. The seating restrictions also apply to family members within the same household. Diners must be vaccinated, unless they are exempted, and sign in using the LeaveHomeSafe app. All restaurant staff must have received two doses by March 30 and must undergo rapid antigen tests every three days. Banquets can be held as long as there are no more than 20 guests.
How about the nightlife scene in Hong Kong?
All bars, nightclubs, karaoke, and party rooms are closed unless they have catering licenses. Once they reopen during the second phase of rule relaxation, they will operate under the vaccine pass arrangement.
Can I take my kids to a theme park or public playground?
Theme parks, game centres, and gaming arcades will reopen on April 21 and anyone over the age of 12 will need a valid vaccine pass to enter these premises. Public playgrounds and children’s playrooms will also reopen on the same day.
Can I go for a swim at a pool or a beach?
Swimming pools have been closed since January 7 but are expected to reopen on May 12. Government-managed beaches have reopened starting May 5.
Can I go camping or have a barbecue in a public place?
All campsites and barbecue pits managed by the government remain closed. Members of the public are not allowed to camp or have barbecues in country parks.
Can I watch a movie in a theatre?
Starting April 21, movie theatres will reopen at 50% of their capacity and will only allow a maximum of four people to sit together in a row. Moviegoers must have a valid vaccine pass, use the LeaveHomeSafe app to enter a theatre, and wear masks unless they’re eating or drinking. Moviegoers can eat and drink in a theatre as long as patrons and staff have received three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, unless they have recently recovered from the virus or are exempt for medical reasons.
Can I watch a concert or a play?
With the exception of Tai Po Civic Centre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, and Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, all government-run cultural performance venues such as concert halls, theatres, auditoria, cultural activiy halls, and arenas will be open to the public from April 21. These venues will operate at half their capacity and no more than four people can sit together in the same row.
Can I get a haircut or manicure?
Hair salons and barber shops have been open since March 10, and beauty parlours are set to resume services on April 21, subject to vaccine pass requirements.
Can I get a spa treatment?
All massage establishments and spas are set to reopen on April 21. Registered Chinese medicine practitioners, therapy services for medical reasons, physiotherapy centres, and certified chiropractic establishments will continue their operations as usual.
Where can I work out?
All fitness centres and studios and gyms have recommenced services on April 21. Government-run indoor sports facilities such as sports centres, squash centres or stand-alone squash centres, table tennis centres, badminton centres, the Hong Kong Velodrome, and the sports facilities of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium have also be available to the public.
Outdoor sports facilities such as including sports grounds, tennis courts, bowling greens, soccer pitches, roller skating rinks, hockey grounds and archery ranges, among other venues have also reopened on this day.
Water sports centres have reopened starting May 5.
From April 16, Hongkongers can use the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) app to make bookings for leisure venues or make bookings online. Bookings for more than four people will be prohibited, but exceptions will be made for certain team sports.
Are there restrictions on hiking?
You can go for a hike in a country park as long as you wear a mask. You must observe the four-person limit on public gatherings, which includes infants in carriers and strollers.
Are there restrictions on weddings?
From April 21, people can get married at wedding venues or religious premises in accordance with regulations under the vaccine pass. Wedding banquets are also permitted as long as there are no more than 20 people in attendance.
Are there restrictions on local tours?
Local tours will resume from April 21 on comprising groups of no more than 30 people. The limit can be increased to 100 people if all participants undergo rapid antigen tests on the first day of the tour.
Can I book a hotel getaway or cruise?
Hotels are open, but they must adhere to stringent guidelines regarding the number of guests in rooms (four in a guestroom, eight in a suite) and register guest information. Staff and guests’ body temperature must be screened, rooms must be thoroughly cleaned before new guests occupy them, and there must be hand sanitisers in each room. All cruises to nowhere have been suspended. Many hotels are either designated quarantine hotels for inbound travellers or community isolation facilities for Covid-19 patients with mild or no symptoms.
Is there a lockdown in Hong Kong?
There is currently no citywide lockdown in Hong Kong. However, the government has been conducting building-specific lockdowns to test all residents where there has been at least one confirmed case with an unknown source, which can last between 12 hours and five days depending on the number of positive cases or positive sewage samples. Visit info.gov.hk for updates including buildings that have been placed under lockdown for compulsory testing.
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Header image credits: Amakuha via Wikicommons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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