Hong Kong: further moderate relaxation of social distance measures from November 17

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According to the HKSAR government press release, the HKSAR government announced on November 10, after assessing the risk of the epidemic, and taking into account the need to resume social and economic activities, will further moderate the relaxation of social distance measures from November 17, with a view to allowing people to continue to live in an orderly manner and resume normal.

The relaxed social distance measures from November 17 include.

(1) In places where customers normally wear masks, the “vaccine pass” will be changed from “active check” to “passive check”. In other words, venue managers will not be required to actively check the vaccination records or exemption certificates of customers when they enter the premises. However, customers will still be required to comply with the vaccination requirements of the “vaccination pass” when entering the premises, and will be required to produce the relevant records or certificates when random checks or other enforcement actions are conducted by law enforcement officers.

The above-mentioned places that will be changed from “active checking” to “passive checking” are as follows

(i) amusement game centers.

(ii) Amusement parks (including billiard halls, public bowling alleys and public ice skating rinks), except for public ice skating rinks that allow patrons to play without wearing masks.

(iii) Public entertainment venues (e.g. theme parks, museums, etc.), except for cinemas and performance venues where patrons can eat and drink inside, and food and beverage establishments in theme parks, which are still subject to “active checking”.

(iv) conference venues (food and beverage establishments in conference venues and other applicable listed establishments are still subject to “active inspection”).

(v) mahjong tien gau entertainment venues.

(vi) Event venues.

(vii) barber stores or hair salons.

(viii) religious establishments.

Under the current immigration control arrangements, holders of the “yellow code” (i.e. the first three days of arrival from overseas or Taiwan) are not allowed to enter “active screening” premises, but may enter “vaccination pass” premises if they meet the vaccination requirements. However, they can enter the “Passive Check” sites if they meet the vaccination requirements of the “Vaccination Pass”.

(2) The administrative arrangements for checking customers’ compliance with the “Vaccination Permit” and “travel with peace of mind” requirements will be aligned with the relevant requirements for private markets, i.e. “passive checking”. (3) Allowing the use of the “vaccination pass” and the “safe travel” requirements in performance venues

(3) To allow eating and drinking in performance venues (both indoor and outdoor), spectator stands of outdoor sports venues, and outdoor areas of horse farms.

(4) Reopen camping sites and other outdoor recreational facilities under the jurisdiction of the government.

(5) Eliminate the requirement that training groups of more than 12 people or classes in fitness centers be at least 1.5 meters apart from each participant, and instead maintain the relevant distance between groups of every 12 people.

Other social distance measures will remain unchanged, including the requirement for rapid antigen testing for banquet participants, bar/lounge and nightclub/nightclub patrons; the requirement for public transport passengers and the wearing of face masks in specified public places, etc.

The HKSAR Government said it will closely monitor the development of the epidemic, especially the spread of the new mutant strain of the virus, and review the social distance measures for each 14-day cycle in the future with a view to making appropriate adjustments, so that social and economic activities can gradually return to normal under the premise of protecting public health.