Hong Kong to see a fourth quarantine hotel for helpers, says employment agent

The Hong Kong Union of Employment Agencies chairman, Thomas Chan Tung-fung, said the SAR government will be announcing details of a fourth quarantine hotel in the city in the coming days.  

The employment agent said the city will be expecting a huge demand for quarantine rooms after the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre stops taking reservations for helpers from Monday, with officials saying the rooms will be reserved amid the onslaught from the Omicron Covid-19 variant.  

The government had since announced a new quarantine hotel, Regala Skycity, to replace the rooms provided at Penny's Bay.  

Chan said rooms at Regala Skycity are more expensive than those at Penny's Bay, which would increase the burden on employers. However, he said employers are more concerned over when their domestic helpers can arrive in Hong Kong rather than the additional cost for the quarantine rooms.  

He also said it's good that the Lantau hotel will provide around 100 more quarantine rooms than before.  

Meanwhile, government officials are expected to announce details of a fourth quarantine hotel for helpers in the coming days, according to Chan.

Employers and agents can start booking rooms at the Regala for arriving helpers from Thursday, reserving a room on or after January 5, 2022, through the hotel's online booking system. A fee of HK$750 per night per room, including three meals, and all charges will be payable.   

The hotel will adjust the number of rooms open for reservation each day, considering the overall booking situation.