What's New
August 3, 2021
New Boarding and Quarantine requirements for Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents arriving in Hong Kong from Japan
The Government has announced new boarding and quarantine requirements for Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents arriving in Hong Kong, which will take effect from August 9, 2021.
Under the new arrangements, non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed in overseas places categorized as medium-risk group, including Japan, on the day of boarding for / arrival in Hong Kong or during the 14 days before the day, and who have been fully vaccinated, will be allowed entry to Hong Kong. Please refer to the "Boarding, quarantine and testing requirements for persons arriving in Hong Kong from Japan" link below for details.
Answers to Key Questions Received for Webinar on “Hong Kong as a pro-business gateway to China”
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, addressed a wide range of questions during the webinar on “Hong Kong as a pro-business gateway to China” organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) on 26 April. Mrs Lam’s answers to some of the questions received during registration and the webinar have been uploaded on our website.
June 24, 2021
Government adjusts testing requirement for boarding from high-risk places
Currently, persons arriving at Hong Kong who have stayed in Japan on the day of boarding for/arriving at Hong Kong or during the 14 days before that day are required to present at boarding negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft.
The Government has specified that the relevant test must be a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid test. Results of tests conducted using other testing technologies/methodologies (e.g. reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification, RT-LAMP) shall not be considered to have fulfilled the relevant specified boarding requirement.
The following are common acceptable terms for "PCR-based nucleic acid test":
✳"Polymerase chain reaction" ("PCR")
✳"reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction" ("RT-PCR")
✳"real-time PCR"
✳"real time RT-PCR"
✳"quantitative PCR"
✳"qPCR"
✳"quantitative RT-PCR"
✳"qRT-PCR"
✳"TrueNAT"
✳"CBNAAT"
June 2, 2021
New pathway for overseas trained doctors to practise in Hong Kong
To meet the increasing demand for public healthcare services amidst the ageing population, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Government introduced on 2 June the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill 2021 into the Legislative Council to create a new pathway for admission of medical doctors who are Hong Kong permanent residents and are trained overseas to practise in Hong Kong. Under the new pathway, a Hong Kong permanent resident possessing a recognised medical qualification as well as medical registration overseas will be eligible for special registration in Hong Kong, subject to certain requirements.
May 6, 2021
Hong Kong ranked third most preferred seat for arbitration globally
Hong Kong has risen one place to rank the world’s third most preferred seat for arbitration, according to the 2021 International Arbitration Survey by Queen Mary University of London. The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre also rose one place to rank as the world’s third most-preferred institution for arbitration.
April 26, 2021
Webinar: Hong Kong as a pro-business gateway to China
The webinar on “Hong Kong as a pro-business gateway to China” held on 26 April was attended by more than 800 Japanese entrepreneurs and business executives.
During the webinar, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, highlighted how Hong Kong’s strong fundamentals and unique advantages under “One Country, Two Systems” make it an ideal partner for Japanese enterprises to tap the vast market in the Mainland of China, in particular the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Presentation materials and webinar recording have been uploaded to the event page in our website.
April 15, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination Programme opens to persons aged 16 or above
Hong Kong has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme in February. The priority groups (including healthcare staff, persons aged 60 or above) could receive vaccinations from 26 February. In March, the priority groups were expanded to cover people aged between 30 and 59, students aged 16 or above studying outside Hong Kong and domestic helpers.
As announced on 15 April, the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will be expanded to cover persons aged 16 to 29.
The Government has purchased three different vaccines sufficient for vaccinating all people in Hong Kong.
April 12, 2021
New direction in fighting pandemic
As the epidemic apparently under control, the Government will adopt a new direction in fighting the pandemic by adjusting various anti-epidemic measures with “vaccine bubble” as the basis.
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that the convenience brought about by vaccinations can be applied to cross-boundary travel, including shortening the quarantine period of persons arriving in Hong Kong from low-risk and medium-risk places; allowing vaccinated Hong Kong residents to take part in an Air Travel Bubble or enjoy the convenience of shortened or no quarantine for overseas travel offered by foreign governments.
March 19, 2021
Webinar on “Setting a Global Standard for Climate Change Disclosure”
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) sponsored a webinar on 19 March 2021 at which panelists from Hong Kong, Japan and Korea shared their views on the desirable way forward for adequate corporate disclosure on climate change risk.
March 17, 2021
Hong Kong rises one place in Global Financial Centres Index
Hong Kong has risen one place to rank fourth in the latest Global Financial Centres Index published on 17 March by the Z/Yen from the United Kingdom and the China Development Institute from Shenzhen.
COVID-19: Hong Kong’s Multi-pronged response
The Government has implemented a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the community while maintaining Hong Kong’s position as an international city and aviation hub.
February 24, 2021
Budget initiatives to revive the economy and relieve people’s burden
In his 2021-22 Budget Speech on 24 February, the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Mr Paul Chan announced that wide-ranging measures will be implemented to revive Hong Kong’s economy, help people overcome financial difficulties amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as assist enterprises in weathering the current economic difficulties and prepare for a post-pandemic recovery. He also set out various initiatives to reinforce the competitiveness of the city’s backbone industries, including financial services, innovation and technology and tourism.
January 29, 2021
Non-recognition of the BN(O) passport as a valid travel document and proof of identity
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced on 29 January 2021 the non-recognition of the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passport as a valid travel document and proof of identity.
With effect from 31 January 2021, BN(O) passports cannot be used for immigration clearance and will not be recognised as any form of proof of identity in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong residents concerned may continue to use their HKSAR Passports or Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards for entering or departing Hong Kong.
November 25, 2020
The Chief Executive unveils measures to inject impetus into Hong Kong’s economy
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, delivered her annual Policy Address on 25 November, revealing wide-ranging strategies to make full use of the city’s advantages under “One Country, Two Systems”, reboot Hong Kong’s economy, create new opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and further promote innovation and technology.
November 11, 2020
NPCSC's decision on qualification of HKSAR legislators
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced on 11 November 2020 the disqualification of four members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) in accordance with the Decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) on the same day on the qualification of HKSAR legislators. These four members were earlier disqualified in accordance with law to be not qualified for the election for the seventh-term LegCo originally scheduled for 6 September 2020 for not upholding the Basic Law and honouring the pledge of allegiance to the HKSAR.
September 10, 2020
Hong Kong once again ranked as world's freest economy
The Fraser Institute once again ranked Hong Kong as the world’s freest economy in the Economic Freedom of the World 2020 Annual Report. Hong Kong has gained the top rank since the inception of the report. Among the five areas of assessment, Hong Kong was ranked top in "Freedom to Trade Internationally" and "Regulation".
