Government announces "Return2hk - Travel Scheme for Hong Kong Residents returning from Guangdong Province or Macao without being subject to quarantine under the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C)"
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To ensure that Hong Kong residents who are currently in Guangdong Province or Macao would be returning to Hong Kong in a gradual and orderly manner to avoid increased public health risks at overcrowded ports, a quota arrangement will be put in place to control the number of cross-boundary travellers during the initial stage of the implementation of the Return2hk Scheme. A daily quota of 3 000 has been set for the Shenzhen Bay Port, while that for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port is 2 000.
Hong Kong residents who wish to return to Hong Kong under the Return2hk Scheme should apply for a quota using the online booking system. The online booking system will be open every Wednesday at 9am until Friday at 6pm to accept quota applications for the seven-day period of the following week (i.e. Monday to Sunday). The first batch of quotas will be opened for booking from November 18 to November 21. Successful quota applicants who also fulfil other specified conditions would be exempted from the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement when they return to Hong Kong from Guangdong Province or Macao on November 23 at the earliest.
Any Hong Kong residents who are 18 or above may apply for a quota through the Return2hk Scheme booking system during the above-mentioned opening hours of the system. When making an application, the applicant is required to provide his/her Hong Kong Identity Card number, and to specify the date and the boundary control point (i.e. the Shenzhen Bay Port or the HZMB Hong Kong Port) to be used for the return. In the same application, he/she may also apply for the quota for three accompanying Hong Kong residents at most. Applications for Hong Kong residents who are under 18 should be made on their behalf by their parents or guardians, and the number of their Hong Kong Identity Card or other personal identity document(s) (e.g. HKSAR passport, HKSAR re-entry permit, birth certificate, other passports) should be provided. Quotas are administered on a first-come-first-served basis.
The Government spokesman reminded Hong Kong residents who have successfully applied for a quota to allow sufficient time for taking a COVID-19 (RT-PCR) nucleic acid test at one of the medical institutions mutually recognised by the Governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong, and, Hong Kong and Macao, such that he/she can present the proof of a valid negative nucleic acid test result upon arrival in Hong Kong. The sample should be taken within three days prior to, or on the day of the person's entry into Hong Kong. The list of recognised medical or testing institutions in Guangdong Province is available at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_GD.pdf; whereas the list of recognised medical or testing institutions in Macao is available at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_MO.pdf.
Hong Kong residents with a quota must return to Hong Kong on the date and at the boundary control point as specified in the booking, and they should present their Hong Kong Identity Card or other identification documents and the confirmation of a successful booking (i.e. a printout of the booking confirmation page). Before arriving at the boundary control point, they should transmit a valid negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result to the electronic health declaration system of the Department of Health through "Yuekang code" (粤康码) or "Macao health code" (澳康码), and fill in all other required information for completing the health declaration. A "Green" QR code will be issued to those who have fulfilled all the specified conditions, with which they would be exempted from the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement upon their return to Hong Kong.
"A dedicated channel will be set up at both the Shenzhen Bay Port and HZMB Hong Kong Port for the use of travellers with a 'Green' QR code. We strongly advise Hong Kong residents with a quota to complete the code conversion process to obtain a 'Green' QR code within 24 hours before their return trip to Hong Kong to expedite the clearance process," said the Government spokesman.
"If a traveler receives a QR code of a different colour (e.g. a 'Pink' QR code) after transmitting a valid negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result to the electronic health declaration system of the Department of Health through 'Yuekang code' (粤康码) or 'Macao health code' (澳康码), it means that he/she has yet to fulfil all the specified conditions, and may thus be subject to 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement upon entry into Hong Kong."
The Government spokesman noted that Hong Kong residents who can fulfil all the specified conditions and are returning to Hong Kong under the Return2hk Scheme should still exercise self-monitoring of their health conditions for at least 14 days after their entry into Hong Kong. They should observe the points listed in the "Health-monitoring Checklist for Inbound Travellers". If they feel unwell, they should seek medical advice promptly and reveal their travel history to medical practitioners. If there is any concern about their symptoms, they may make a request to their doctors for taking a relevant virus test.
The spokesman also reminded Hong Kong residents who are returning to Hong Kong under the Return2hk Scheme that they would still be subject to the prevailing quarantine arrangements of Guangdong Province or Macao (e.g. 14-day compulsory quarantine) when they subsequently leave Hong Kong for the two places, unless exemption has been granted for them separately. They should take note of the latest quarantine arrangements of Guangdong Province and Macao, and make necessary preparations.
Details of the Return2hk Scheme are available at the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (return2hk.gov.hk or 回港易.政府.香港). Members of the public may also call the hotline of the Return2hk Scheme at 3142 2330 if they have any enquiries.
Ends/Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Issued at HKT 17:59
Issued at HKT 17:59
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