The Government announced today (July 4) that it will accept the vaccination records issued by Kosovo, Madagascar and Tanzania as recognised vaccination records for persons arriving at Hong Kong who have stayed in overseas places. The relevant arrangements will take effect at 0.00am on July 6 (Wednesday).

     The Government has concluded discussions with the Government of Tanzania to accept vaccination records issued by the place as recognised vaccination records for persons arriving at Hong Kong who have stayed in overseas places. Meanwhile, the Government announced earlier that it accepts vaccination records recognised under the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) mechanism as recognised vaccination records required for the purpose of boarding flights for Hong Kong from overseas places. As the European Union (EU) has recently announced the recognition of the vaccination records issued by Kosovo and Madagascar as being equivalent to vaccination records issued by EU member states under the mechanism, the Government will therefore also accept the vaccination records issued by these places as recognised vaccination records.

     From 0.00am on July 6, persons who hold a vaccination record in the prescribed format (if applicable) issued by the relevant authorities of Kosovo, Madagascar and Tanzania can board a flight for Hong Kong from overseas places. The vaccines administered for the relevant travellers have to be vaccines listed on the Government's List of COVID-19 Vaccines Recognised for Specified Purposes.

     At the same time, the Government notes that the EU DCC mechanism has also recognised the vaccination records issued by Bahrain, Ecuador and Korea. The Government has previously reached recognition arrangements with these places. Therefore, passengers who hold a vaccination record issued by the relevant authorities of these three places can continue to board a flight for Hong Kong from overseas places under the established mechanism.

     The Government has implemented stringent inbound prevention and control measures for persons arriving at Hong Kong from overseas places. Persons who have stayed in any overseas place can only board a flight for Hong Kong if they are fully vaccinated and hold recognised vaccination records. Recognised vaccination records include (a) vaccination records issued by Hong Kong, (b) vaccination records or certifications issued by Mainland or Macao authorities or an institution recognised by Mainland or Macao authorities, (c) vaccination records or certifications issued by an authority or recognised institution of a country where its national regulatory authority is designated by the World Health Organization as a stringent regulatory authority, (d) vaccination records or certifications issued by a relevant authority or recognised institution of a country with which Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement with its government, or (e) vaccination records issued by an organisation with which Hong Kong has reached a recognition agreement arrangement.

     The list of places or organisations that are accepted for issuing recognised vaccination records is set out in the Annex, and will be uploaded to the Government's COVID-19 thematic website.

     The Government will continue to discuss with other places on the arrangements for the recognition of vaccination records, and will update the list as recognition arrangements are agreed with these places.

Ends/Monday, July 4, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:44

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