After more than two years, Hong Kong is finally lifting one of the world's most restrictive quarantine measures (Photo: Getty Images)
Cover After more than two years, Hong Kong is finally lifting one of the world's most restrictive quarantine measures (Photo: Getty Images)

The already loosened 3+4 format, which required arrivals to stay three days in hotel isolation followed by four days under medical surveillance, will be scrapped from September 26

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu confirmed on Friday that the city will no longer require arrivals to go through a 3+4 system, under which those coming to the city must stay in hotel isolation for three days followed by four days in medical surveillance. This will be replaced by the 0+3 system from September 26, whereby arrivals can go straight into a three-day medical surveillance at home or any hotel with no prior hotel quarantine.

Lee also said arrivals will also no longer be required to provide a pre-departure nucleic acid test (PCR), but they will still need to take a rapid antigen test (RAT) within 24 hours of the departure of their Hong Kong-bound flight.

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Further, while travellers will still need to get tested upon arrival to Hong Kong, they will no longer be held at the airport to wait for their results. They can head straight home or to their hotel under the new “test-and-go” measure. Also, visitors or residents returning to the city will not be required to take designated transport, but will be free to take public transport straight to their destination.

Visitors must download the government’s Leave Home Safe risk-exposure app, and will be automatically assigned an amber code upon arrival. Under amber code restrictions, arrivals will not be allowed in restaurants and bars during their three-day medical surveillance period. 

Should their PCR test on the last day of their surveillance period return negative, arrivals’ amber code restrictions will be lifted and they will be assigned a blue code on the fourth day.

Earlier this week, Beijing had offered clear support for the Special Administrative Region to relax travel restrictions.