Starting December 14, 2022, international travelers entering Hong Kong who test negative for COVID-19 will no longer be required to adhere to an amber health code barring them from some venues, and can freely enter.
Hong Kong’s announcement comes a week after China’s Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) said that it will no longer require travelers to present a negative COVID-19 test upon entry.
Hong Kong has adhered to one of the world’s toughest and stringent COVID-19 restrictions. During the height of the pandemic, Hong Kong regularly banned airlines that were found to have carried more than five passengers who tested positive for COVID-19.
Hong Kong health Secretary Lo Chung-mau told a news conference attended by local media that travelers arriving in the city would no longer be issued an “amber code”.
The Amber code was Hong Hong’s latest COVID-19 restriction scheme, requiring inbound travelers from entering restaurants and bars during their first three days in the island administrative region.
Lo also confirmed the end of a requirement to scan a government health app to enter public venues, but said a vaccine pass would still be needed to enter venues such as restaurants.
With this latest and most relaxed rule, visitors to Hong Kong will still need to produce a negative COVID-19 test result upon arrival. Entry into restaurants and bars must still show proof of having received three shots of a coronavirus vaccine.