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. The list of relevant recognized vaccines will be released in due course. 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.

Hong Kong films to premiere in Chicago

Five films from emerging Hong Kong film directors will be featured at the upcoming Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) Season 12 from March 15 - May 1. Kicking off the “Made in Hong Kong” series are two films that will be streamed online: Documentary “Keep Rolling”, directed by Lim-chung Man, which offers an up-close look at the life and works of acclaimed film director Ann Hui; and “Elisa’s Day”, the first feature film directed by Alan Fung. Three Hong Kong films will be shown at the drive-in in Lincoln Yards: the Centerpiece screening of “One Second Champion” by Sin-hang Chiu, “I Still Remember” by Lik Ho and the Closing Night quirky rom-com “Ready O/R Knot”, from first time director Anselm Chan. More information and ticketing information can be found here.

Inbound traveler quarantine adjusted

May 7, 2021 - Quarantine requirements for inbound travelers and returnees from certain overseas places will be adjusted from May 12 based on the vaccine bubble concept. Those who are fully vaccinated, ie after 14 days following the administration of two COVID-19 vaccine doses for production of antibodies, will have their quarantine period reduced. The quarantine period at the designated hotels for fully vaccinated travelers from medium and high-risk places, including the US, will be reduced from 21 to 14 days. This will be followed by seven days of self-monitoring and COVID-19 tests on the 16th and 19th day of their arrival in Hong Kong. Those coming from the low-risk countries including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore will need to undergo quarantine at designated hotels for seven days instead of the original 14 days, plus seven days of self-monitoring. They should also undergo a post-arrival COVID-19 test on a designated day. The quarantine arrangements for people who have stayed in very high-risk places will remain unchanged, while flights from extremely high-risk places will be banned. Details here.

Hong Kong ranks 3rd in arbitration survey

May 7, 2021 - The Department of Justice welcomed the 2021 International Arbitration Survey released by Queen Mary University of London today in which Hong Kong was ranked the third most preferred seat for arbitration worldwide. Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng said Hong Kong's strength in dispute resolution is premised on its infrastructure, business opportunities and pool of talents. "Our Judiciary is independent and impartial while our common law system provides a degree of certainty and predictability for investors and the international business community," she said. "The result of the 2021 International Arbitration Survey is a recognition of our long-standing and unwavering commitment to the promotion of arbitral services." Details here.

Foreign currency reserves down

May 7, 2021 - Hong Kong's foreign currency reserve assets fell to US$490.6 billion in April from March's US$491.4 billion, according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The reserve assets represent about seven times the currency in circulation or 47% of Hong Kong dollar M3. There were no unsettled foreign exchange contracts in April. Details here.

Quarantine measures to be adjusted

May 5, 2021 - The Hong Kong SAR Government today said it will adjust the quarantine arrangements for people who have stayed in overseas places other than those that are extremely high-risk and very high-risk under the vaccine bubble concept. Answering lawmakers’ questions at the Legislative Council, Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan noted that some places are considering or have announced the reduction or lifting of quarantine for vaccinated people as COVID-19 vaccination rates around the world are rapidly increasing. After the adjustment, the basic boarding and quarantine requirements will remain unchanged for high-risk and medium-risk places, including the US. New arrangements will be applied to fully vaccinated people who have stayed in these places to shorten their compulsory quarantine period from 21 days to 14 days under the vaccine bubble concept. The compulsory quarantine period for fully vaccinated people who have stayed in low-risk Group D specified places, ie Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, will also be shortened from 14 days to seven days. Details here.

Flights from UK and Ireland set to resume

May 4, 2021 - The Hong Kong SAR Government today said it will allow flights from the UK and Ireland to resume on May 7, subject to no significant change to the epidemic situation in Hong Kong and in relevant overseas places. The decision came after having considered the stabilizing local epidemic situation and the relatively satisfactory vaccination rate in the UK and Ireland. Hong Kong residents in the two places may board flights for Hong Kong and would be subject to the most stringent compulsory quarantine and testing arrangements upon arrival in the city. These include a negative COVID-19 test result prior to departure, confirmation of a 21-night room reservation in a designated quarantine hotel and compulsory COVID-19 tests after arriving in Hong Kong. Details here.

March retail sales up 20.1%

May 4, 2021 - The value of total retail sales in March, provisionally estimated at HK$27.6 billion (US$3.5 billion), rose 20.1% year-on-year. Online sales, which accounted for 7.7% of the total retail sales value in March, surged 43.3% year-on-year in value, to an provisionally estimated HK$2.1 billion (US$269 million). After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the volume of total retail sales for the month increased 19.8% compared with a year earlier. The value of sales of other consumer goods, not elsewhere classified increased 35.2%. The Hong Kong SAR Government said retail sales registered a notable year-on-year increase in March, mainly due to an exceptionally low base of comparison last year. For the first quarter as a whole, retail sales volume rose 7.2% over a year earlier, but was still far below that in the first quarter of 2019 by 32.5%. Looking ahead, while local consumption sentiment saw some improvement following the gradual relaxation of social distancing measures since mid-February, the near-term outlook for the retail trade is still challenging as inbound tourism remains in the doldrums. Details here.

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