What's New
August 20, 2021
New Boarding and Quarantine requirements for persons arriving in Hong Kong from Korea (Update as of August 20)
Non-Hong Kong residents from Korea who are fully vaccinated have been allowed entry to Hong Kong starting 9 August 2021. Following the announcement of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) on 17 August, new boarding, quarantine and testing requirements for persons arriving from overseas will take effect on 20 August 2021.
For fully-vaccinated travellers (including Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents) arriving at Hong Kong who had stayed in overseas places categorised as Group B specified places (medium-risk), including Korea, their compulsory quarantine period in designated quarantine hotels would be 14 days.
Non-Hong Kong residents who do not hold a recognised vaccination record are not allowed to board flights for Hong Kong.
According to the HKSARG announcement on 20 August, persons entering Hong Kong who are holding vaccination records that are issued by the relevant authorities or relevant institutions where the vaccines were administered will continue to be regarded as fulfilling the boarding and compulsory quarantine period-related vaccination record requirements. In other words, vaccination records issued by the Korean authorities or institutions (for vaccines administered in Korea) continue to be recognised by Hong Kong.
Please refer to the “Boarding, quarantine and testing requirements” link below for the latest arrangements.
September 15, 2021
Come2hk Scheme for non-Hong Kong residents to enter Hong Kong from Guangdong Province and Macao
Starting from 15 September, non-Hong Kong residents coming from Guangdong Province and Macao, upon fulfillment of all the specified conditions under the Come2hk Scheme, can be exempted from compulsory quarantine upon entry into Hong Kong. Eligible persons may apply for a quota to enter Hong Kong through the online booking system of the Come2hk Scheme.
September 14, 2021
Hong Kong once again ranked as the 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 2021 Annual Report. Hong Kong has gained the top rank since the inception of the report. Among the five areas of assessment, Hong Kong continued to rank top in "Freedom to Trade Internationally" and "Regulation".
September 3, 2021
Hong Kong - Emerging Stronger and Beyond
The Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative, Ms Joyce HO, has published an article to give an update on Hong Kong’s latest developments. The article provides facts and figures demonstrating that Hong Kong has maintained its unique strengths, and encourages the Korean businesses to partner with Hong Kong to tap the immense opportunities in the Mainland market.
August 18, 2021
Webinar on “Clusters of innovation: New technologies and smart economies in Asia”
The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Alfred Sit, on 18 August updated the business community in Korea on Hong Kong’s latest developments and opportunities in innovation and technology (I&T) at a webinar entitled “Clusters of innovation: New technologies and smart economies in Asia” organised by the Economist Corporate Network with full sponsorship from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
June 24, 2021
Government adjusts testing requirement for boarding from high-risk places
Currently, persons arriving at Hong Kong who have stayed in Korea 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 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 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.
