Entry requirement to Hong Kong from the US

Currently, only Hong Kong residents are allowed to enter Hong Kong from the US.
Before boarding the flight, travelers from the US are required to present test report, in English or Chinese, showing a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test administered within 72 hours of the scheduled time of departure. They are required to present documentary proof in English to show that the laboratory or healthcare institution is recognized/ approved/ ISO15189 accredited. Recognized laboratories in the US may be located via: the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/clia/LabSearch.html or
https://qcor.cms.gov/main.jsp (please click on “CLIA Laboratory Lookup” in the left-hand column) and print out the relevant record from the database. A relevant letter issued by the New York State Department of Health is attached for reference.

Upon arrival, inbound travelers from the US are required to undergo 21-day compulsory quarantine at a designated quarantine hotel. Effective May 12, the compulsory quarantine period for fully vaccinated travelers will be adjusted to 14 days. Subsequently, they are required to self-monitor for seven days and undergo compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th day of their arrival at Hong Kong. Fully vaccinated persons means persons who have received the necessary doses as stipulated in guidelines of a COVID-19 vaccination course 14 days prior to their arrival at Hong Kong. All World Health Organization/National Medical Products Administration/Hong Kong-recognized vaccines are accepted. Details here.

Hong Kong's latest response to COVID-19

Get timely information on how Hong Kong is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, including quarantine arrangements, social distancing measures, public safety, public health and other issues. Details here.

Join Our Virtual Chinese New Year Celebration

While traditional in-person celebrations have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19, we invite you to visit our dedicated platform Celebrating the Year of the Ox 2021 to mark the season with a selection of performances, explorations and cultural traditions.

Experience Hong Kong’s arts and culture scene from the comfort of your home

Through a newly created webpage, we hope to bring you some of Hong Kong’s best and diverse arts and cultural programs for you to enjoy from the comfort of your home. We will showcase Hong Kong's vibrant arts and cultural scene though webinar discussions, performances, art exhibitions and many other collaborations. Details here.

Arts in Hong Kong

Explore the beauty of Hong Kong through arts and you just might find yourself with a whole new perspective. Join Hong Kong’s multidisciplinary artist Ivana Wong and film director Kearen Pang on interactive walks at some of the city’s coolest attractions, including Tai Kwun, The Mills, and the West Kowloon Cultural District. Learn more about Hong Kong’s street art at the annual HK Walls Festival, (May 8–16) and the “Tools of the Trade” exhibition at Soho House (through Jun 6). Peruse world-class arts online at international arts fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong (May 21 – 23) and Arts Central (May 20 – 23). Or venture out and tick off arts itineraries at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Yim Tim Tsai Arts Festival (Apr 16 – Jul 16) or the Freespace Mural (ongoing) and discover arty delights and offers along the way. Find out what are the top 10 not-to-miss art events in Hong Kong this month through Hong Kong Tourism Board’s dedicated website, a one-stop platform providing essential information about Arts in Hong Kong and introducing online showcases, art itineraries, an event calendar, artsy offers, interviews with art insiders, and more. Details here.

Real GDP grows 7.9% in first quarter

May 14, 2021 - The Hong Kong economy recovered visibly in the first quarter of 2021, with real GDP resuming appreciable year-on-year growth of 7.9%, ending six consecutive quarters of contraction. Total exports of goods surged by 30.2% year-on-year in real terms, due to the global economic recovery led by the Mainland and the US alongside a sharp rebound in global demand. However, the economic recovery was uneven and overall economic activity remained below the pre-recession level, as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to weigh on certain economic segments, particularly those involving consumer-facing activities. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from a 17-year high of 7.2% in the three-month period ending February to 6.8% in the first quarter of 2021. Considering the uneven economic recovery and the relatively high uncertainty associated with the pandemic, the real GDP growth forecast of 3.5% to 5.5% for 2021 is maintained. Details here.

Hong Kong-Guangdong conference held

May 14, 2021 - Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui co-chaired the 22nd Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference through video conferencing today. Delivering the opening remarks, Mrs Lam said that with a common objective of taking forward the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong has become ever closer. Noting that this year marks the opening of the nation's 14th Five-Year Plan, she said both places will fully leverage their strengths together, achieve a win-win outcome, and seek greater policy innovation and breakthroughs to bring more opportunities for enhancing economic growth and improving the livelihood of the people. The Chief Executive also wished for Guangdong's support to secure the gradual relaxation of quarantine requirements for entering the Mainland in an orderly and restricted manner to meet the intense desire of Hong Kong and Guangdong residents to resume cross-boundary travel. Five co-operation agreements were signed after the meeting, covering the 14th Five-Year Plan and "dual-circulation" strategy, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, equine industry development, Guangzhou-Hong Kong Racing Economic Cluster and sports projects. The meeting also set out individual areas of co-operation, the progress made and the directions for future co-operation in areas including finance, legal and dispute resolution services, innovation and technology, medicine and healthcare, and youth development. Details here.

I&T key to Hong Kong's growth potential

May 14, 2021 - Highlighting that Innovation & Technology (I&T) is at the heart of Hong Kong's growth potential, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the city has identified four key areas to focus its efforts and investment, namely artificial intelligence and robotics, smart city, fintech and biotech. Speaking at "The Future of Hong Kong Economy" conference organized by the University of Hong Kong Business School this morning, Mr Chan said that the Hong Kong SAR Government has allocated more than HKS$110 billion (US$14.1 billion) to fast track I&T progress. Mr Chan said Hong Kong will play a central role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Bay Area, collaborating with the ten other Greater Bay Area cities, particularly Shenzhen. The two cities are setting up a "one zone, two parks" development, combining Hong Kong's R&D strengths and Shenzhen's capabilities in advanced manufacturing. "In developing the region into an international I&T center, we will contribute to China's technological self-reliance, while creating new growth areas for Hong Kong's economy," he said. Details here.

Travel bubble delay likely

May 14, 2021 - There is a high chance that the travel bubble arrangement between Hong Kong and Singapore may not resume as scheduled on May 26, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau said today. He told reporters that the Minister for Transport of the Singapore government had updated him on the situation in Singapore, particularly on the recent increase of confirmed COVID-19 cases within the city-state. The Hong Kong SAR Government would be reviewing the situation, particularly in the next couple of days, in light of additional measures to be taken by the Singapore government. Details here.

Additional BioNTech vaccines arrive

May 14, 2021 - The latest shipment of about 740,000 doses of the BioNTech vaccine, filled and finished at another plant in Germany, arrived in Hong Kong this morning as arranged by Fosun Pharma. Staff carried out stringent checks and inspections to ensure the vaccine complied with the product specifications and that the transportation process followed the relevant cold-chain requirements. The vaccine was placed in validated ultra-low temperature freezers to ensure its proper storage in accordance with the temperature specified by the drug manufacturer. The vaccines concerned were made by the same manufacturer and filled and finished at the same plant with the same specifications in Germany. Details here.

Quarantine hotel measures enhanced

May 13, 2021 - The Hong Kong SAR Government today announced that enhancement measures are being implemented to further strengthen infection control at designated quarantine hotels. People arriving in Hong Kong from overseas are subject to testing and compulsory quarantine requirements under a set of stringent inbound prevention and control measures. For those arriving in Hong Kong, apart from undergoing the test-and-hold arrangement at the airport, they will also be subject to further tests while undergoing compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels. The testing arrangements will be enhanced with the introduction of an additional test on the third day of arrival to ensure that no case would slip through the testing net as far as possible. Depending on the risk levels of places where the people arriving in Hong Kong depart from and the applicable compulsory quarantine periods, the number of tests they will be subject to during compulsory quarantine will also be increased. Those who are subject to a seven-day quarantine will need to be tested twice and people who have to undergo a 21-day quarantine will need to be tested four times. Those arriving at Hong Kong from extremely high-risk or very high-risk specified places, or fully vaccinated people with shortened quarantine periods, will also be required to undergo additional compulsory tests upon the completion of compulsory quarantine. Details here.

Social distancing measures extended

May 13, 2021- Social distancing measures currently in place in Hong Kong will be maintained until May 26. Certain restrictions under the vaccine bubble were relaxed since Apr 29, with a view to respond to the aspirations of various trades and the public to resume normal daily lives as soon as possible. The implementation of the first phase of measures under the vaccine bubble is generally in order. To allow the relevant operators of premises and the general public to get used to the relevant measures, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to maintain the existing restrictions applicable to catering business premises and scheduled premises, as well as the requirements for group gatherings and mask wearing. Details here.

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