This file photo shows immigration clearance counters at Terminal 1 (T1) of Changi Airport in Singapore, on Thursday, Dec 13, 2018. (NICKY LOH / BLOOMBERG)

HONG KONG - A travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore will be launched on Nov 22, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah announced Wednesday. 

Yau said the scheme would begin with one flight a day into each city, with a quota of 200 travellers per flight. This would be increased to two flights a day into each city from Dec 7. The travel bubble would be suspended for two weeks if either Hong Kong or Singapore saw a daily average of more than five untraceable infections for a week.

The scheme would be increased to two flights a day into each city from Dec 7

Singapore's Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said he believed the travel bubble was the first of its kind in the world and enabled both cities to open up borders in a controlled manner, while maintaining safety, Reuters reports from Singapore. 

Travellers from both cities must travel on designated flights and must take COVID-19 tests. No quarantine would be required in either place and there would be no restrictions on the purpose of travel.

READ MORE: Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble may have one flight a day

Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines would be the carriers offering the initial designated travel bubble flights, according to Yau.

In Hong Kong, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee told reporters in a separate press conference that starting Nov 13, all arrivals except those from the Chinese mainland will be required to be quarantined at hotels.

Starting Nov 23, Hong Kong residents who currently live in Guangdong province and Macao Special Administrative Region, will be eligible for quarantine exemption provided they have tested negative for the virus within 72 hours of arrival after having registered online. She clarified, however, that Hong Kong residents would still be required to be quarantined when they visit Guangdong province or Macao.

ALSO READ: CE: HK virus curbs to stay, contact tracing app soon

Speaking to reporters, the Hong Kong commerce secretary said the travellers must have tested negative in mutually recognized tests taken within 72 hours before their departure. Also, travellers must undertake COVID-19 tests again via a designated lane at the airport upon arrival at Hong Kong and test negative in order to proceed with their itineraries. 

The government announced that the application deadline for the Travel Agents Incentive Scheme will be extended to March 31, 2021, to allow more HK travel agents to make full use of the scheme through inbound and outbound tours. 

At the same press conference, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit Wing-hang announced a contact tracing cellphone app, Leave Home Safe, will be available for downloading on Nov 16. He said users are not required to register their personal particulars and app will retain details of their travel history only for a month.

Sit said details of more than 6,000 public and private venues, as well 18,000 taxis had been registered with the contract tracing program. Users can either scan QR codes or input car number plate details and will be alerted if a COVID-19 patient had visited the premises or taken a ride.