Hong Kong has finally joined most of the world in scrapping COVID-19 testing for arriving travellers, a measure that takes place from 29 December 2022. The mandatory Vaccine Pass, previously required to enter certain venues, will also be abolished.
This comes hot on the heels of a recent easing of restrictions just two weeks ago, which saw the lifting of “Amber Code” movement controls on arrival. Arriving travellers can now visit any venue they wish from day one, compared to previously having to wait for a negative PCR test result on day three.
| ๐ญ๐ฐ Summary: Travel to Hong Kong From 29 Dec 22 |
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However, both indoor and outdoor masking will still be mandatory until further notice.
Hong Kong ends all on-arrival testing
| Till 28 Dec 22 | From 29 Dec 22 | |
| Vaccination | Required* | |
| e-Health declaration | Complete within 96h of departure | Optional |
| Pre-departure test | Self-ART within 24h of departure | |
| On-arrival test | Day 0 PCR (at airport) | None |
| Medical Surveillance | Amber Code for 3 days | None |
| Post-arrival tests | Day 1-7: Self-ART Day 2: PCR |
None |
| *Exceptions for Hong Kong residents, and children aged below 12 | ||
From 29 December 2022, Hong Kong will be removing all its on-arrival and post-arrival testing, while making its e-Health declaration optional.
However, vaccinations will still be required for non-Hong Kong residents, and a pre-departure self-administered ART (based on the honour system) remains part of the official requirements.
That said, this is still a huge improvement for travellers, since the bigger concern was getting flagged by the much more sensitive on-arrival PCR test, which could lead to mandatory quarantine of at least five days.
Vaccination
Hong Kong continues to require that all travellers be fully vaccinated, unless they are Hong Kong residents. The following vaccinations are recognised:
| Vaccine | Doses Required |
| AstraZeneca | 2 |
| Bharat Biotech Covaxin | 2 |
| CanSinoBIO | 1 |
| Covishield | 2 |
| Covovax | 2 |
| Gamaleya Sputnik V | 2 |
| IMBCAMS | 2 |
| Janssen | 1 |
| KCONVAC | 2 |
| Moderna | 2 |
| Novavax | 2 |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | 2 |
| Sinopharm | 2 |
| Sinovac | 2 |
| Zifivax | 3 |
Children under the age of 12 are currently exempt from the vaccination requirement.
Pre-departure test
While Hong Kong has scrapped all on-arrival testing, it still requires travellers to take a pre-departure ART within 24 hours of departure. This test can be self-administered, and you should keep a photo of the results for 90 days.
Upon receiving the test results, relevant persons should keep the photos showing the test results or the test report for 90 days for presentation for checking on request by Government personnel.
-HK Government
There’s really no practical way of enforcing this, especially since the electronic Health & Quarantine Information Declaration form is now optional, so it’s pretty much based on the honour system.
Health Declaration
Hong Kong has made its Health & Quarantine Information Declaration optional. You may submit your vaccination status and pre-departure ART result if you wish, but it is no longer mandatory.
Since vaccination is still a mandatory requirement, I assume this means the task of checking vaccination status will be delegated to the airlines (i.e. show your certificate during check-in).
On-arrival testing
On-arrival testing at Hong Kong airport has ceased.
Post-arrival testing
Day 2 testing, and all post-arrival testing for that matter has ceased.
Travellers are “advised” to self-monitor their health after arrival by conducting self-administered ARTs on Day 0 (day of arrival) to Day 5.
Masking rules
Hong Kong is not making any changes to its masking rules. Masks will continue to be required both indoors and outdoors, as well as on flights.
Conclusion
Hong Kong has finally scrapped its on-arrival and post-arrival testing regime, which brings it in line with restrictions around most of the world. Travellers can visit once again without movement restrictions or the fear of a positive test leading to mandatory quarantine on arrival.
I do wonder if Hong Kong will continue to feature on Singapore Airlines’ Spontaneous Escapes following these developments, since it’s likely to see a pick up in load factors. Likewise, this will hopefully lead to an increase in Cathay Pacific’s flights to Singapore, and with it the reopening of their excellent lounge in Terminal 4.
While I do intend to visit Hong Kong at some point, I might wait till the mandatory masking requirements end- although I understand this is unlikely for the next few months due to the winter flu season.
Anyone planning a Hong Kong trip?
NOT going until they drop the mask mandates.
Not keen to be forced to breathe in cancerous materials.
Tests have shown that many masks contain cancerous materials.
Are you are not concerned about all the cancerous materials that circulate in airplanes as the air passes through the air filters? Like masks, those air filters have cancerous materials. If you want to be 100% safe, you need to give up BOTH masks AND flying,
Let me worry about my health.
I’m against mask MANDATES!
if anyone wants to wear a mask, they should go ahead.
Just don’t try to force me to do the same.
So you are against mask mandates, and then make up stories about masks and cancer then? I wonder whether you are against all the other rules we need to abide by in a civilized society? Do you have an issue with wearing clothes, abiding by road rules, paying your taxes, rules around HDB flats? What about being mandated to submit to airport security while flying? Or being mandated to put your seat belt on for take-off and landing? Or mandated to get a visa to enter some countries? And this is just a few of the many things we must… Read more »
For the benefits of other readers who might care about facts: Here’s a study: ‘Although titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a suspected human carcinogen when inhaled, fiber-grade TiO2 (nano)particles were demonstrated in synthetic textile fibers of face masks intended for the general public… The estimated TiO2 mass at the fiber surface ranged from 17 to 4394 ยตg, and systematically exceeded the acceptable exposure level to TiO2 by inhalation (3.6 ยตg), determined based on a scenario where face masks are worn intensively.’ carcinogen = causes cancer. 5-800 times more than the acceptable exposure limit. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-06605-w Besides this, I won’t reply to your… Read more »
For those who are actually interested in facts and not debunked theories from conspiracy theorists down rabbit holes, below is a link that debunks the nonsense.
The above poster is clearly down a rabbit hole and cannot apply any critical thinking. Sad.
https://healthfeedback.org/claimreview/titanium-dioxide-face-masks-hasnt-been-associated-with-toxicity-health-problems/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/11/11/fact-check-masks-dont-lead-lung-cancer-but-some-include-chemicals/6176080002/
https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-masks-titanium-dioxide-idUSL1N32L11T
Also for some further context, titanium dioxide is found in milk, salad dressing, chocolate, snacks, and sauces among other things. I will bet you anything Mr Tai, the poster above, is not avoiding all the above products!
https://www.webmd.com/diet/titanium-dioxide-in-food
Now if Hong Kong could just join the rest of the world and drop the mask mandate that would be great. I donโt think they cause cancerโฆ..they are just bloody annoying and serve little purpose in 2023!
Regarding masks, Iโm wondering if wearing a black face mask is still a taboo in Hong Kong nowadays.
on a sidenote regarding Entry/China. I heard from the PPS hotline agent today (31st of December) that it might be “days” before the bookings to China ex-SIN will open. I then replied saying “a couple of weeks” and the reply was “certaintly, for sure”. Both comments surprised me in their clarity, given that nothing official has been communicated. I hope it’s not bad form to hijack the Entry/HK post, but I wanted to let you know.
Thanks for the heads up! I suspect they’re waiting to see if singapore might take tougher measures on travellers from china first?
true, good point. What I personally find interesting is that all countries that -currently- are imposing arrival restrictions are strong US allies (Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Italy, Spain). In one instance Italy, whose Health Minister declared they knew of the high positivity rate since a while now, only acted after the US declared such policy. I am hereby in no means criticising it, as I would -if a state- also somehow restrict the immense pent-up pressure for Chinese to travel abroad (ex. Japan) and thus this policy could be a diplomatic way to do it in the meantime. What do… Read more »
I think that singapore would be a stronger us ally than Malaysia! I’m sure the relevant authorities are watching the situation carefully