ShekouDaily | February 8, 2020
Details about Hong Kong’s mandatory quarantine measures are out! Watch out… Offenders can be sentenced to 6 months in prison!
On February 5th, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and other officials held a press conference to announce that from February 8th, those who have entered the Mainland and those who have been to the Mainland in the past 14 days, including Hong Kong residents, mainland residents and others passengers are required to undergo quarantine for 14 days and cannot leave Hong Kong.
Yesterday, (February 7), the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Zhang Jianzong, led a press conference detailing the compulsory quarantine measures.
Two mandatory quarantine regulations for persons visiting Hong Kong were outlined as well as a subsidiary legislation, with strict enforcement of 14-day mandatory quarantine measures, where offenders can be fined 25,000 yuan and imprisoned for 6 months!
Where do tourists go for quarantine?
Upon entering Hong Kong, visitors and residents will be advised of the situation and relevant measures, consequences of any violations, and will be asked for their address and phone number by the port health department of the Hong Kong Department of Health.
According to Chen Zhaoshi, director of the Food and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, if passengers have booked a hotel before entering the country, they will be quarantined at the hotel after receiving government approval. If inbound tourists do not have a residence, the SAR Government will arrange for them to stay in a closed isolation camp. The number of camps used for quarantine in Hong Kong is relatively low at the moment, including three resorts, and only 97 beds; however, the government is continueing to select sites.
Chen Zhaoshi emphasized that those subject to compulsory quarantine must stay in their residences, wear masks and must not leave Hong Kong within 14 days. In addition, their temperature and symptoms must be recorded daily. The Hong Kong Social Welfare Department will provide assistance and the Home Affairs Department will set up a hotline.
Zheng Zhongwei, deputy secretary general of the Food and Health Bureau, said that if the visa of an immigrant is less than 14 days, he will be immediately refused entry. Those able to stay more than 14 days, such as those staying on visas, foreigners who can enter Hong Kong without a visa, etc., will be subject to compulsory quarantine upon entry.
Where do Hong Kong residents receive quarantine?
Chen Zhaoshi said that for Hong Kong residents returning to Hong Kong from the Mainland, home isolation will be arranged if the person has no symptoms. Zheng Zhongwei said that compulsory quarantine measures rely on the self-discipline of Hong Kong citizens, and people can go home by themselves after entering Hong Kong.
However, Zheng Zhongwei emphasized that during the compulsory isolation period, all relevant persons can only live with the designated family members during the isolation period, and must not be with other relatives or friends, otherwise they will bear criminal responsibility! The Hong Kong government will arrange for a surprise inspection of the quarantined person and maintain contact with the quarantined person by telephone.
Will Tracking Bracelets be Used?
Zheng Zhongwei said that whether those in quarantine will need to use tracking bracelets will be determined on a case-by-case basis. People with lower risks will not be asked to wear the bracelet. However, if the Hong Kong government finds that a mainland immigrant has left the domicile registered at the time of entry the government may increase the conditions for isolation or prosecute the person concerned.
Who is Exempt from the Mandatory Quarantine?
Director Zhang Jianzong said that there are 4 categories of people exempt from compulsory quarantine, including:
1. Those who supply goods and services for the normal operation of Hong Kong or the daily life of Hong Kong people;
2. Those necessary for the operation of government affairs;
3. Those who protect the safety or health of Hong Kong people and deal with Hong Kong health emergencies;
4. Individuals with very special circumstances that are in the public interest of Hong Kong.
These people include: cross-border truck drivers, crews of arriving passenger and cargo aircraft, cargo and fishing boat crews, etc.
However, those exempted from compulsory quarantine are required to wear masks and take body temperature every day as instructed by the Hong Kong Department of Health.
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Hong Kong Transportation Adjustments
The Transport Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government announced that due to the SAR government’s decision to implement compulsory quarantine measures for transit people from February 8, the public transport services between Shenzhen Bay Port and Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be adjusted as follows :
(I) Shenzhen Bay Port
Out of service lines:
- New Lantao Bus (Yuba) B2X (Tianyao Village-Shenzhen Bay Port);
- Citybus B3 (Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal-Shenzhen Bay Port);
- B3A (Shanjing Village-Shenzhen Bay Port);
- B3M (Tuen Mun Station-Shenzhen Bay Port (Circular Line);
- New Territories Minibus No. 618 (Tianen Village-Shenzhen Bay Port);
- And all cross-border buses using Shenzhen Bay Port.
Sky Limo services from the Hong Kong International Airport to Mainland China were not specifically mentioned; however, here are phone numbers for those services in case you’d like to call to inquire about your specific arrival time and destination.
Reduce shifts to 30 minutes / shift:
- Yuba B2 (Yuen Long Station-Shenzhen Bay Port);
- B2P (Tianci Village-Shenzhen Bay Port);
- Citybus B3X (Central Tuen Mun-Shenzhen Bay Port).
(II) Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
Shuttle bus service (Jinba) (only Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port) will provide limited services. The Macau line will be reduced to approximately every 30 to 60 minutes, and the Zhuhai line will be reduced to approximately every 60 minutes Service will be adjusted according to passenger demand.
Suspended Services:
- Minibus No. 901 (Yingdong Village-Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port (Circular));
- All Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-boundary buses.
60 minutes / shift (7 am to 11 pm):
- Island Bus B4 (Airport (Passenger Terminal)-Hong Kong Port (Circular) of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge)
- B6 (Mandong Village-Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge).
45 minutes / shift:
- Citybus B5 (Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port-Xinao Public Transport Interchange).
Source: 定了，香港强制检疫措施出炉！违者可判6个月！