Exemption from Compulsory Quarantine Arrangement for inbound travellers from the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for detailed information regarding the testing and isolation arrangement for exempted persons arriving Hong Kong at Hong Kong International Airport and land boundary control points.

(Updated as at 20 November 2020)

Under section 4(1) of the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C) (the Regulation), made under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), the Chief Secretary for Administration may designate any person or category of persons fulfilling certain criteria for exemption that –

the person’s or persons’ entry into Hong Kong —
1. is necessary for the supply of goods or services required for the normal operation of Hong Kong or the daily needs of the people of Hong Kong;
2. is necessary for governmental operation;
3. is necessary for the protection of the safety or health of the people of Hong Kong or the handling of the public health emergency within the meaning of section 8(5) of the Ordinance concerning the specified disease;
4. is necessary for the person’s or persons’ receiving nursery, kindergarten, primary or secondary education at any school registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) in Hong Kong or for the provision of such education;
5. is necessary for the safe travelling of any person for the purposes mentioned in subparagraph (iv); or;
6. because of the exceptional circumstances of the case, otherwise serves the public interest of Hong Kong; or
the person’s or persons’ travelling is necessary for purposes relating to manufacturing operations, business activities or provision of professional services in the interest of Hong Kong’s economic development.

In accordance with section 4(1) of the Regulation, the Chief Secretary for Administration has exempted the following categories of persons from the compulsory quarantine requirement.

No.	Category of persons	Enquiry	Application form
1	Cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers and necessary accompanying personnel	Transport and Housing Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 7199	Not applicable
2	Cross-boundary coach or shuttle drivers and crew members
3	Crew members of aircraft who need to commute to and from Mainland, Macao and Taiwan for performance of necessary duties
4	Government officials carrying out governmental duties	Not applicable	Not applicable
5	Government agents and contractors supporting the operation of cross-boundary functions	Road maintenance works Highways Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2926 4111 Other transport related functions Transport and Housing Bureau (Transport Branch) Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 7199	Not applicable
6	Crew members of goods vessels (with cargo operation) [Remark: Exemption of compulsory quarantine and crew change for goods vessels without cargo operation has been suspended from 29 July 2020 until the local epidemic situation is contained.]	Transport and Housing Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 7199	Not applicable
7	Crew members of passenger ships (including crew members of vessels operating transit services for SkyPier at the Hong Kong International Airport) [Remark: Exemption of compulsory quarantine and crew change for passenger ships has been suspended from 29 July 2020 until the local epidemic situation is contained.]	Transport and Housing Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 7199	Not applicable
8	Crew members of fishing vessels and fish collectors (including mainland fishermen deckhands)	Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2150 7101	Not applicable
9	Personnel of organisations commissioned by the Director of Social Welfare to provide welfare support for Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland	Social Welfare Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2892 5214	Not applicable
10	Construction personnel tasked to carry out off-site duties in the Mainland that are essential and cannot be replaced by other means to ensure the quality, integrity and statutory compliance of services or components to be used in government projects, public housing projects and Airport Authority projects in Hong Kong	Development Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 8801 Transport and Housing Bureau Public housing project Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2712 2712 Airport Authority projects Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 7199 Highways Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2926 4111	Not applicable
11	Experts, personnel of the academic sectors or of international authorities who are engaged in research and/or provide advice in combating the COVID-19 infection to the HKSAR Government	Department of Health Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2961 8989 or 2961 8991	Not applicable
12	Staff of Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse and livestock importers residing in the Mainland	Food and Environment Hygiene Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2868 0000	Not applicable
13	Staff and personnel of public bodies and their partners for the supply of wristbands and related materials for home quarantine	Office of the Government Chief Information Officer Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2582 4520	Not applicable
14	Personnel of public bodies and their partners, agencies, companies or organisations for the supply to Hong Kong of personal protective equipment (PPE) or materials / equipment for the production of PPE	Department of Health Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2125 2512 or 2961 8989 or 2961 8991	Not applicable
15	The category of persons verified to be Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland side of Sha Tau Kok	Security Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2810 2327 North District Office Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2675 1600	Not applicable
16	Staff of security companies who are responsible for transporting physical currency and bearer negotiable instruments (CBNIs) to and from Macao	Customs and Excise Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3759 3184	Not applicable
17	Personnel of companies engaged in manufacturing goods for supply to Hong Kong for its normal operation or for the daily needs of the people of Hong Kong: either the owner of a company with factory/factories in the Mainland which are engaged in manufacturing goods for supply to Hong Kong for its normal operation or for the daily needs of the people of Hong Kong, and up to one personnel employed and so authorized by the company; or up to two personnel employed and so authorized by such a company as described in (a)	Trade and Industry Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2398 5553	Link
18	Personnel of Hong Kong enterprises with manufacturing operations in the Mainland: either the owner of an enterprise with a valid business registration certificate issued under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) and with manufacturing operations in the Mainland, and up to one personnel employed and so authorised by the enterprise; or up to two personnels employed and so authorised by such an enterprise as described in (a)	Trade and Industry Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2398 5553	Link
19	Persons employed and so authorised by The University of Hong Kong – Shenzhen Hospital	Food and Health Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 8953	Link
20	either the owner of a Hong Kong enterprise with a valid business registration certificate issued under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) which provides medical and dental services in the Mainland and Macao, and up to one person employed and so authorised by the enterprise; or up to two persons employed and so authorised by such an enterprise as described in (a).		Link
21	Veterinary surgeon, veterinary academics & relevant experts who may work with the Government on prevention and control of animal and zoonotic disease	Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2150 6824	Not applicable
22	Construction personnel for provision of professional services in the Mainland: either the owner of an enterprise with a valid business registration certificate issued under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) and with provision of construction related professional services in the Mainland and up to one person employed and so authorised by the enterprise; or up to two persons employed and so authorised by such an enterprise as described in (a)	Architectural, landscape architectural, structural engineering or quantity surveying services Architectural Services Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2867 3577 Civil or geotechnical engineering services Civil Engineering and Development Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2762 5460 Electrical, mechanical, building services or electronic engineering services Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2333 3762 Town planning services Planning Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2231 5000 Surveying services (other than quantity surveying services) Lands Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2231 3187	Link
23	An arbitrator, mediator or qualified legal practitioner acting as a counsel for a party in arbitration or mediation proceedings administered by a relevant body listed in the Appendix or in litigation proceedings in court, who returns to Hong Kong from the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan after provision of necessary professional services in the aforesaid proceedings there; or An arbitrator, mediator or qualified legal practitioner acting as a counsel for a party in arbitration or mediation proceedings administered by a relevant body listed in the Appendix or in litigation proceedings in court, who travels from the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan to Hong Kong to provide necessary professional services in the aforesaid proceedings in Hong Kong	Department of Justice Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3918 4570	Link
24	A qualified legal practitioner acting for a party in an important and large-scale commercial transaction, being transactions for listing on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong or notifiable transactions of listed companies under the applicable listing rules of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, who either travels from the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan to Hong Kong to provide necessary legal services that require on-site physical presence in relation to the aforesaid transaction or returns to Hong Kong from the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan after provision of necessary legal services that require on-site physical presence in relation to the aforesaid transaction.	Department of Justice Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3918 4570	Link
25	up to two personnel who are either the owner and/or the full time employees of each eligible ² enterprise or institution; and such persons have to travel to the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan for conducting one of the following research and development (R&D)-related activities – on-the-ground R&D work requiring collaboration between the eligible enterprise or institution and an enterprise or institution in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan; sourcing of essential materials or equipment which are required to sustain the technological R&D work carried out in Hong Kong by the eligible enterprise or institution; or overseeing the operations of the eligible enterprise or institution’s research facility(ies) in the Mainland, Macao or Taiwan ² An eligible enterprise or institution must be: A public R&D institution in Hong Kong (i.e. the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Automotive Platforms and Application Systems Research and Development Centre, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel, the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech Research and Development Centre, and the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute); or A tenant/incubatee/grantee/occupant of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) or Cyberport which conducts technological R&D work	Innovation and Technology Commission Enquiry: [email protected] Due to office relocation on 5 Sep 2020, the enquiry hotline has been updated as follows: Phone: 2180 9063 or 2180 9056 The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2780 6900 or 2780 6938 Cyberport Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3166 3891 or 3166 3709	Link
26	Certified public accountants (practising), partners, directors or employees of practice units registered with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants under the Professional Accountants Ordinance (Cap. 50), who are required to travel to the Mainland to conduct audit work for companies listed on a recognized stock market (as defined by section 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571)) and having Mainland operations, to assist those companies to fulfil their obligations under relevant Ordinances or other regulatory instruments that govern the operation of the companies or their business	Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3655 5158 The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2287 7228	Not applicable
27	Directors of the companies listed on Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK) or directors of companies applying for listing on SEHK (“listing applicants”) who are on duty travel from Mainland to Hong Kong, or return from duty travel in the Mainland to Hong Kong. The purpose of such duty travel is recognized by SEHK as essential to the operation of the listed companies or listing applicants. Specified duties include: travelling to Hong Kong from the Mainland to attend shareholders’ meetings of listed companies held in Hong Kong (including Annual General Meetings, Extraordinary General Meetings and Special General Meetings); travelling to Hong Kong from the Mainland to attend the hearings held by the HKEX including listing hearings, disciplinary hearings and review hearings; and returning to Hong Kong after travelling to the Mainland for attending shareholders’ meetings of Hong Kong-listed companies (including Annual General Meetings, Extraordinary General Meetings and Special General Meetings)	travelling to Hong Kong from the Mainland to attend shareholders’ meetings of listed companies held in Hong Kong (including Annual General Meetings, Extraordinary General Meetings and Special General Meetings) travelling to Hong Kong from the Mainland to attend the hearings held by the HKEX including listing hearings, disciplinary hearings and review hearings Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2840 3758 returning to Hong Kong after travelling to the Mainland for attending shareholders’ meetings of Hong Kong-listed companies (including Annual General Meetings, Extraordinary General Meetings and Special General Meetings)	Link
28	Directors or executives of companies listed on the SEHK and included in the Hang Seng Index, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index or Hang Seng Composite LargeCap, MidCap or SmallCap Index who travel from the Mainland to Hong Kong, or return from the Mainland to Hong Kong for essential business activities	Listing Division of HKEX for listed companies	Link
29	Logistics, Port and/or Shipping Business Activities in the Mainland: either the owner of an enterprise with a valid business registration certificate issued under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) and having an operating base relating to logistics, port and/or shipping business in the Mainland, and up to one person employed and so authorised by the enterprise; or up to two persons employed and so authorised by such an enterprise as described in (a).	Transport and Housing Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 8211	Link
30	up to two personnel who are either the owner and/or the employees of a vegetable farm, or hydroponic farm, or flower farm or plant nursery, or livestock farm, or fish farm which is engaged in the production of agricultural and fisheries products for supply to Hong Kong, and that such persons have to travel to the Mainland or Taiwan - for overseeing the operation of the farm; or for procuring necessary inputs for agricultural and fisheries production; or Up to two personnel who are either the owner and /or the employees of a fishing vessel / fish collector vessel which is engaged in operation in the Mainland waters for supply of fisheries products to Hong Kong and such persons have to travel to the Mainland for – handling matters related to the vessel or its operation such as inspection/maintenance of the vessel, application for a licence / permit for the vessel or any matters related to its operation; or procuring equipment onboard for meeting operational needs; or up to two personnel of each local agricultural and fisheries trade association who have to attend meetings convened by government bodies of the Mainland to support industry exchanges or development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area	Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2668 0197 (Agricultural trade) or 2150 7098 (Fisheries trade)	Link (Agriculture) Link (Fisheries)
31	Hong Kong residents who reside in the Mainland and have been enrolled at Secondary 3 to Secondary 5 levels in schools registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) in Hong Kong, and who have to enter Hong Kong from the Mainland for the purpose of receiving secondary education [Remark: Exemption from compulsory quarantine for cross-boundary students in the 2019/20 school year has ended on 17 July 2020.]	Education Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 2891 0088	Not applicable
32	Personnel of the companies or organisations for the supply of COVID-19 testing services in Hong Kong	Food and Health Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 8953	Not applicable
33	Senior management (up to two members only) designated and authorised by an enterprise with a valid Air Operator's Certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Department under the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Cap. 448C); and Senior management of the Airport Authority Hong Kong	Transport and Housing Bureau Enquiry: [email protected] Phone: 3509 8240	Not applicable

For general enquiries on the exemption arrangement, please contact Food and Health Bureau ([email protected]).