A Government spokesman said today (May 31) that to assist Hong Kong residents stranded in Nepal to leave there, the Government has co-ordinated with the Consulate General of Nepal in Hong Kong (Consulate General) and a local airline to arrange two special flights to bring them home. The special flights are tentatively scheduled to depart Kathmandu on June 1. The flights are expected to carry about 330 passengers to return Hong Kong.
Upon arrival in Hong Kong, the returnees from Nepal will proceed to the Department of Health's Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at AsiaWorld-Expo for compulsory COVID-19 testing. After their deep throat saliva samples are collected, the returnees will be transferred to the quarantine centre at Chun Yeung Estate, Fo Tan, for a 14-day compulsory quarantine period.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, Nepal has imposed strict restrictions on all land and air traffic since late March, Hong Kong residents in Nepal cannot arrange flights to leave there on their own. After receiving requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents, the Security Bureau and the Immigration Department (ImmD) have been following up with the Chinese Embassy in Nepal and the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on different fronts; and maintaining close co-operation with the Consulate General to proactively liaise with airlines for securing flight bookings for the affected Hong Kong residents to leave Nepal.
As at May 30, the ImmD received assistance requests from about 1 300 Hong Kong residents stranded in Nepal concerning their home passage to Hong Kong. Most of the assistance seekers are currently located in Bagmati and Gandaki provinces in the central part of Nepal.
The Government will continue to liaise with the Consulate General and airlines to arrange other special flights to assist the stranded Hong Kong residents to return home orderly in batches.
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