Chief Executive Lam Says Hong Kong is Prepared for Flight Ban Easing

Hong Kong is fully prepared for returning residents as the city lifts its flight bans from nine countries starting today, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said yesterday, March 31, during a press conference.

The countries that will have eased flight bans are Australia, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Disregarding the number of transit passengers, more than 20 flights with over 20,000 passengers are expected to return.

“We have taken it very seriously to make sure that the whole process of Hong Kong residents arriving, and then taking the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based nucleic acid tests under the 'test-and-hold' arrangement at the airport, and then being transported to the designated quarantine hotels, is a smooth process,” Lam said.

Lam also mentioned the Chief Secretary led an inter-departmental meeting on Wednesday, March 30, to ensure that the return of Hong Kong residents will be smooth.

“That is why an inter-departmental meeting was held yesterday, chaired by the Chief Secretary, to make sure that we have the capacity, we have the staff and the testing contractors will be geared up to look after the several-thousands of passengers arriving. And also the transportation because we have to arrange designated transportation,” she added.

“So I can tell you that we have made full preparation for their return and I hope that they will all have a pleasant trip back to Hong Kong.”

For those who want to watch the full press conference, a webcast is available on the Information Services Department’s website with sign language interpretation.