Singapore and Hong Kong revealed on 15 October 2020 an in-principle agreement on a travel bubble to be launched that will exempt residents of both cities from quarantines or stay-home notices, first reported by the South China Morning Post. Those travelling under the Singapore – Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble will have no restrictions on their travel purpose and will not need to have a controlled itinerary, as reported by CNA.
The Singapore – Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble will commence on 22 November 2020 with one flight a day to each city.
The launch of the Singapore – Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble (ATB) has been deferred by 2 weeks.
However, travellers on the Singapore – Hong Kong travel bubble scheme will need to test negative on mutually recognised COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and be required to go on dedicated flights under the travel bubble.
On 12 October 2020, Singapore reduced SHN period to 7 days for travellers coming from Hong Kong, from the usual 14 days. However, the current quarantine period for travellers from Singapore going into Hong Kong remains at 14 days.
Read more: Quarantine Experience in Hong Kong for Inbound Travellers
The South China Morning Post reported that Commerce Secretary Edward Yau Tang-wah met the media at 2.30pm on 15 October 2020 to discuss the travel bubble. Singapore Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung met the press separately at the same time.
The Singapore – Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble scheme will start with one flight a day into each city with a quota of 200 travellers per flight, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung announced in Singapore on Wednesday (Nov 11).
The Singapore – Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble will be suspended for two weeks if the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked COVID-19 cases is more than five in either Singapore or Hong Kong.
As part of the Singapore – Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble, travellers between Singapore and Hong Kong will have to take COVID-19 tests, in lieu of quarantine or SHN. There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel, and no need for a controlled itinerary.
All travellers will be required to test negative on a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test 72 hours before their scheduled departure.
On arrival in Hong Kong, travellers from Singapore will be required to take another COVID-19 test and remain at Hong Kong International Airport until the results are confirmed.
On arrival in Singapore, travellers from Hong Kong will not be required to take a Covid-19 test at Changi Airport.
UPDATE (21 Nov 2020): On arrival in Singapore, travellers from Hong Kong will be required to take a COVID-19 test at Changi Airport following a surge of coronavirus cases in Hong Kong.
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Are you excited to be travelling again soon, especially for the end of year holidays?
This article may be edited without prior notice due to the fluidity of the COVID-19 situation around the world.