Non-residents without full vaccination barred entry into Hong Kong from Nov 17

From November 17, non-Hong Kong residents who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed entry into Hong Kong, according to a government announcement on Wednesday.

It was announced that New Zealand will be reclassified into medium risk “Group B” in the government's anti-epidemic measures. The adjustment will take effect at midnight on November 17.

Currently, New Zealand is the only overseas country in the low risk “Group C”. In other words, no overseas place will be regarded as low risk following the change.

Under Hong Kong's three-tier grouping, non-Hong Kong residents who are not fully vaccinated will not be allowed entry if they come from medium or high-risk countries.

Hong Kong residents returning from medium risk countries, who are not fully vaccinated, will be subject to 21-day compulsory quarantine at quarantine hotels. Fully vaccinated persons will be subject to 14-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels.

"New Zealand authorities have announced earlier that they would pursue the policy of 'living with the virus' and have set their full vaccination target. We note that the number of confirmed cases there has been increasing. As the risk of the importation of cases has heightened, we must tighten the quarantine requirements for persons arriving at Hong Kong from New Zealand,” a government spokesperson said.

As for high-risk Group A regions, only Hong Kong residents who are fully vaccinated are allowed to return to the SAR. They must complete a 21-day compulsory quarantine.

A government website lists the categorization of various countries, and the border control measures which apply.