Hong Kong Update for Travellers and Others

Get travel advice and stay on top of the latest developments in Hong Kong affecting the airport, public transport, public safety and other issues. Details here.

Public Health Response Plan Activated

Hong Kong health authorities continue to monitor developments regarding the emergence of an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. A dedicated webpage has been set up to provide relevant information and health advice. Details here.

Business restrictions gazetted 

April 1, 2020 – The Hong Kong SAR Government has gazetted the Prevention and Control of Disease (Business and Premises) Regulation today, empowering the Secretary for Food and Health, to issue directions, for public health reasons, to restrict the mode of operation, operating hours, or require the closure of beauty parlors, clubhouses, nightclubs as well as premises for karaoke, mahjong tin-kau and massage establishments. The Secretary issued directions today for the closures of karaoke, mahjong-tin kau establishments, and clubs as well as the suspension of karaoke and mahjong tink-kau activities in catering premises and clubhouses, through April 15. This is part of measures to further enhance social distancing and protect public health. Details here.

Flight set for Hong Kong people in Peru 

March 31, 2020 - The Hong Kong SAR Government said it will charter a flight to assist Hong Kong residents stranded in Peru to leave the country smoothly. The cost of the flight will be borne by the passengers. At present, Hong Kong residents currently in Peru cannot leave through normal flight arrangements as the country has declared a state of emergency and imposed strict restrictions on all land and air traffic. The government will arrange a chartered flight from Lima to London on April 3, followed by a connecting flight with secured flight bookings back to Hong Kong. Hong Kong residents in Peru who have yet to contact the Assistance to Hong Kong residents Unit but wish to take the chartered flight out of Peru to London and then return to Hong Kong should call the department's 24-hour hotline (852) 1868 or email 1868@immd.gov.hk for assistance by March 31, Peru time. Details here.

Deficit recorded for April 2019 – February 2020 

March 31, 2020 – The Government recorded a deficit of US$756 million in the month of February. Expenditure for the 11-month period was at US$68.6 billion and revenue at US$70.2 billion, resulting in the cumulative year-to-date surplus at US$2.4 billion after receipt of net proceeds of US$1 billion from issuance of green bonds under the Government Green Bond Programme and repayment of institutional notes of US$192 million. Fiscal reserves stood at US$152.5 billion. Details here. 

February retail sales dropped 44% 

March 31, 2020 – The value of total retail sales in February, provisionally estimated at US$2.9 billion, fell 44% year-on-year. After netting out the effect of price changes in the same period, the volume of total retail sales decreased by 46.7% year-on-year. Retail sales plunged sharply and showed the largest year-on-year decline for a single month on record, reflecting the heavy blow to tourism and consumption-related activities affected by COVID-19. Details here. 

Exchange fund at US$535.6 billion 

March 31, 2020 – Total assets of the Exchange Fund was at US$535.6 billion as at Feb 29, 2020. This is US$2 billion lower than the previous month. Hong Kong dollar assets decreased by US$4.2 billion while foreign currency assets increased by US$2.1 billion. Details here. 

Free trade agreement and investment agreement between HK and the Philippines launched 

March 31, 2020 – The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Investment Agreement (IA), signed between Hong Kong and the Philippines in March this year, will take effect on May 12. Under the FTA, Hong Kong service providers will enjoy better business opportunities and legal certainty in market access for a comprehensive range of service sectors in the Philippines. The IA will provide Hong Kong enterprises with fair and equitable treatment as well as free transfer of investments and returns. With the latest agreement with the Philippines, a total of seven ASEAN member states are now under FTA and IA with Hong Kong. Details here. 

New measures to curb COVID-19

March 27, 2020 – The Hong Kong SAR Government announced new regulations to combat the spread of COVID-19. These measures, aimed at enforcing social distancing, include a ban on gatherings of more than four people in a public place,  and the closure of all entertaining and amusement premises. Speaking at a press conference, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said there will be exemptions for the four-person limit regulation such as in the workplace and at weddings. This regulation will come into effect for 14 days from March 29. Under a second regulation, restaurants are required only to serve half their capacity of customers and venues such as cinemas, fitness centers, and amusement game centers will close for two weeks, beginning March 28. All country park barbecue sites and campsites managed by the government will also be closed starting from March 28 through April 11. Details here.

Addition local mask production lines approved 

March 27, 2020 – Six additional local mask production lines are now approved under the Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme. Each line is expected to supply an average of between one to two million masks from April onwards. Together with the two production lines approved last week, a total of eight production lines have been approved under the scheme. This is one of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s initiatives under the Anti-epidemic Fund to help address the shortage of masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details here.

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