The Government announced today (May 18) the mechanism for The University of Hong Kong – Shenzhen Hospital (HKUSZH) and Hong Kong enterprises providing medical or dental services in the Mainland to apply for exemption from the compulsory quarantine arrangement under our local regime.
      
     The Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2020 commenced on April 29, 2020, amending the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (amended Regulation).  The expiry date of the amended Regulation is June 7, 2020. In accordance with section 4(1)(b) in the amended Regulation, the Chief Secretary for Administration may designate any person or category of persons for exemption from the compulsory quarantine arrangement if he is satisfied that the person's or category of persons' travelling is necessary for purposes relating to the provision of professional services in the interest of Hong Kong's economic development.
      
     In accordance with the above-mentioned provision, the Chief Secretary for Administration has exempted the following categories of persons from the compulsory quarantine arrangement:
      

1. up to 50 persons employed and so authorised by HKUSZH; and 
        
2. (i) either the owner of a Hong Kong enterprise with a valid Hong Kong Service Supplier Certificate in relation to the provision of medical and dental services in the Mainland under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, and up to one person employed and so authorised by the enterprise; or
         
   (ii) up to two persons employed and so authorised by such an enterprise as described in (i).
          

     Each exempted person must take a COVID-19 nucleic acid test at HKUSZH within seven days before entry to Hong Kong (starting from the date of collection of sample) and present a valid certificate of negative test result to authorised officers at the control points.
      
     An exempted person must only travel to and stay in the areas/cities where the services are provided for the purpose of provision of the intended services as approved, and must take every precautionary measure to ensure personal hygiene and avoid unnecessary social contact. After returning to Hong Kong, the exempted person will be subject to medical surveillance arranged by the Department of Health for a period of 14 days. The person will be required to wear masks and check body temperature daily, and report to the Department of Health on any discomfort.
      
     All exempted persons should note that currently travellers to the Mainland would still be subject to the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement imposed by the Mainland authorities. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is discussing with authorities in the Mainland on mutual recognition of COVID-19 testing results conducted by recognised medical laboratories, with a view to exempting the quarantine requirement for Hong Kong travellers to the Mainland. Details of the arrangement will be announced when available.
      
     The details of the exemption arrangement and the application forms are available for download from the website of the Food and Health Bureau (FHB): (www.fhb.gov.hk/en/download_forms/index.html).
      
     Applicants should submit the completed application form with all required supporting documents to FHB by email (exempt_med599C@fhb.gov.hk) or by fax (2905 1165).  In processing the applications, FHB may consult the relevant bureaux/departments when necessary. FHB will issue authorisation letters to the exempted persons, setting out the conditions for exemption.
      
     For enquiries, please call FHB's hotline at 3509 8953.
     

Ends/Monday, May 18, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:36

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