​The Labour Department (LD) today (November 12) announced that, starting from December 8, the Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong Sha Tin will be added as a Designated Quarantine Facility (DQF), providing a total of 500 rooms for quarantine of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) coming to work in Hong Kong. This is a new DQF in addition to the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre on Lantau Island and the Rambler Garden Hotel in Tsing Yi. In addition, Silka Tsuen Wan will serve for other quarantine purposes from December 1 onwards. The number of rooms provided by the Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong Sha Tin as a DQF will be greater than that provided by Silka Tsuen Wan. 
      
     The LD spokesman said, "Employers of FDHs and employment agencies (EAs) may, starting from 9.30am on November 15, reserve a room through the online booking system of the Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong Sha Tin (www.marriott.com/HKGST) at a fee of $650 per night per room (including three meals and all charges). The hotel will adjust the number of rooms open for reservation each day having regard to the overall booking situation. The hotel will confirm with the persons making the reservations individually and arrange to complete the relevant procedures upon receipt of their bookings. It will require the person making a reservation to provide the FDH's passport copy, valid employment visa and recognised vaccination record to verify the identity of the FDH. The booking process will be completed upon issuance of a booking confirmation by the hotel. FDHs will also need to provide the above documents for verification when they check into the facility."
      
     The spokesman continued, "The Government understands the need of local families for FDHs. However, the global pandemic is severe and the Government must vigilantly uphold the policy of guarding against importation of cases. FDHs should be allowed to come to Hong Kong in a risk-controlled as well as gradual and orderly manner. The Government will consider whether more DQFs can be provided having regard to the global and local epidemic situation."
      
     Employers and EAs should allow sufficient time for preparing the documents required and completing the procedures when arranging for their FDHs to come to Hong Kong. They should only book an air ticket for their FDHs after a room has been successfully reserved in a DQF. If a person making the reservation fails to submit the documents required or settle the payment within the specified period of time, his/her booking may be cancelled. Payment will be refunded to the person making the reservation if a change or cancellation of room booking is required because an FDH tests positive for COVID-19 before arrival in Hong Kong, or because of a change or cancellation of flights by the airline or a lockdown, provided that relevant supporting documents are submitted in advance. If there is a need to change the check-in date due to other special circumstances, the hotel will exercise flexibility having regard to the individual merits of each case. If an FDH does not have a booking confirmation by a DQF, the FDH will not be allowed to board a flight for Hong Kong or may be denied entry into Hong Kong upon arrival.
      
     The above arrangement for FDHs' quarantine at DQFs is applicable to FDHs who have been fully vaccinated in regions where Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement on their vaccination records (the currently applicable regions include Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand). For the full list of applicable regions, please visit: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/places_of_issuance_recognised_vaccination_records.pdf). As for FDHs who have received full vaccination in Hong Kong, they may undergo compulsory quarantine at a general designated quarantine hotel or a DQF (a list of DQFs is in the Annex).
      
     Should there be any enquiries, please contact the LD through its hotline at 2717 1771 or by email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, November 12, 2021
Issued at HKT 11:57

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