Hong Kong will lift a ban on flights from nine countries and reduce hotel quarantine alongside a “roadmap” towards eased restrictions that suggest a departure from the territory’s zero-Covid policy, its leader has announced. From 1 April, fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents who have received a negative PCR test will be allowed to enter on flights from the UK, Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and the US. Arrivals have to undergo seven days’ hotel quarantine, down from 14 previously.
The “circuit breaker flight ban” was no longer necessary for those nine countries because the situations there were “no worse” than that in Hong Kong, the chief executive, Carrie Lam, told the media on Monday, acknowledging the anxiety restrictions had caused to Hongkongers stranded overseas.
Hong Kong has maintained some of the world’s strictest border rules, blocking non-residents from entry, enforcing 21-day quarantines, and punitively banning airlines for carrying Covid-positive passengers.
