HONG KONG. The South China Morning Post today reported that the Hong Kong government is set to lift the ban on travellers from the UK in a significant relaxation of border measures which could soon see quarantine-free, ‘travel bubble’ deals in place with more than ten countries.
Flights from the UK to Hong Kong were indefinitely banned in December. Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan said they could resume before the end of April according to a report in the Hong Kong Tatler.
Critically, the government is also reported to be in talks to extend the Return2HK programme – which currently only applies to those returning from Guangdong and Macau – to include other Mainland provinces. Such a move would offer a tremendous boost to retailers and other businesses in Hong Kong.
The Return2HK programme allows Hong Kong residents to come back to the city without going through 14-day quarantine if they test negative for COVID-19 in the 24 hours prior.
COVID-19 fears are easing in Hong Kong, after the province did not a record a single locally transmitted coronavirus infection over the weekend, the first such instance since 14 October 2020.
