A Government spokesman said today (December 13) that there are three updates on the arrangements for the measure which requires all travellers arriving in Hong Kong from countries outside China to be accommodated at designated quarantine hotels with effect from 0.00am, December 22:
- For those designated quarantine hotels which can complete relevant preparatory work, including meeting the Government's infection control requirements under the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme and serving solely quarantine guests in their hotels, they can start operating as a designated quarantine hotel earlier, to be effective from December 18.
- The Government will, starting from December 18, arrange designated transportation to send travellers from the airport and the Holding Centre for Test Result (at the Rambler Garden Hotel) to the 36 designated quarantine hotels.
- For travellers arriving in Hong Kong on December 21, they should reserve hotel booking at a designated quarantine hotel before departure, otherwise they will be refused to board the flight
The Government spokesman said, "Since the announcement of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme, some designated hotels indicated to the Government that they would be able to complete their preparatory work and start operating as a designated quarantine hotel earlier. From infection control angle, the Government welcomes the proposal as it will minimise the risk of contact between the quarantine guests and the local community.
"The Government is liaising with the designated quarantine hotels and will announce relevant information on the thematic website when the number of designated hotels which can start operating as quarantine hotels earlier is confirmed," he added.
The full implementation date of the Scheme still remains on December 22, by then all 36 designated quarantine hotels should solely be serving guests under quarantine.
In addition, as a traveller arriving in Hong Kong on December 21 may not be able to check-in hotels on the same day owing to flight delay or time required for having test result, to avoid confusion, the Government will require these travellers to reserve hotel booking at a designated quarantine hotel, otherwise they will be refused to board the flight.
A list of the designated quarantine hotels is at the Annex. Details of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme is also available at the thematic webpage (www.designatedhotel.gov.hk).
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