Hong Kong Drops All Entry Restrictions In Time For New Year’s Eve 2022

Intrepid travelers keen on a literal last-minute, far-flung New Year’s Eve adventure are in luck.

On December 28, Hong Kong announced that all arrival restrictions for inbound travelers will be eliminated starting December 29—just in time to usher in the advent of 2023.

“The new measures mark a key milestone for tourism revival and the full reopening of the tourism doors of Hong Kong,” said Dr. Pang Yiu-kai, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), in a press release. “Taking into account the pace of outbound travel resumption in different visitor source markets, HKTB will gradually step up its promotions worldwide to uphold Hong Kong’s status as a world-class travel destination.”

Key changes regarding arrival requirements include:

PCR Test Scrapped Upon Arrival & On Day 2

• A PCR test—previously required upon arrival in HK International Airport, and on Day 2—will no longer be required.
• Visitors are only required to present negative results from PCR tests conducted within 48 hours or rapid antigen tests (RAT) within 24 hours before their flights to Hong Kong.
• Daily RAT on the first 5 days is voluntary.

Vaccine Pass No Longer Required

The city’s vaccine pass—which was imposed in February and mandated for access to most venues in Hong Kong—will also no longer be required from Thursday.

Social Distancing Measures Relaxed

• Restrictions on group gathering size in public and limits on restaurant capacity, as well as other targeted premises, will be lifted.
• Only the city’s mask mandate remains in effect.

Quarantine for COVID Close Contacts Dropped

Close contacts (co-living members of confirmed COVID cases) will no longer be isolated in residence or government-run facilities.

The axing of Hong Kong’s stringent restrictions—which followed Beijing’s earlier announcement that beginning January 8, mainland China will drop its own strict quarantine requirements for travelers arriving from abroad—is expected to resuscitate the singular city’s hospitality industry, which ground to a virtual standstill three years ago after welcoming 56 million visitors in 2019.

Fanny Yeung, executive director of Hong Kong’s Travel Industry Council, hopes the tourism sector can rebound to 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the third quarter of 2023—though warns staffing issues will likely be a problem, given that many travel industry employees were forced to find work in other fields due to Covid-19’s devastating impact.

To mark this major post-pandemic milestone, Hong Kong is gearing up to celebrate with high-octane New Year Countdown Celebrations and a show-stopping fireworks extravaganza, to be held at the city’s iconic Victoria Harbour on December 31.

Besides live performances by internationally acclaimed pianist Niu Niu (Zhang Shengliang) and a gravity-defying display by members of the Hong Kong Rope Skipping Club, online and TV audiences can enjoy a 3-D animation celebrating the city’s diversity and dynamics in the lead-up to the countdown. At 30 seconds to midnight, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) will once again transform into a gigantic countdown clock, ushering in the New Year—and hopefully, the return of legions of travelers from around the world.

For more information about the Hong Kong New Year Countdown spectacular, and the latest travel requirements for inbound travelers, visit the HKTB website.