In this Aug 11, 2021 photo, a woman wearing a face mask walks past a flight information board at Hong Kong International Airport. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong reported two new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, bringing the tally to 12,380.

The two new infections were imported cases and involved travelers from the United Arab Emirates, said the Centre for Health Protection in a statement.

READ MORE: More quarantine hotel rooms for helpers as HK sees 1 new case

"One of the cases involved a mutant strain (L452R) while the mutation test result of the remaining case is pending," the CHP said.

The patients — two women aged 49 and 65, respectively — traveled to Hong Kong via Emirates flight EK384 on Nov 11.

When asked about whether the government would roll out the vaccine passport, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the government will continue to promote vaccination which is one of the key measures in epidemic control

“Both patients tested positive during the ‘test-and-hold’ arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport, the CHP said.

Both women have been fully vaccinated with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, the center added.

The financial hub reported a total of 36 COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days and all of them were imported.

ALSO READ: CE gets 3rd Sinovac dose as HK rolls out booster program

Also on Saturday, the city's Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the government would continue to promote vaccination which is one of the key measures in epidemic control.

"Not only can vaccine keep people safe, it can also protect people from infecting as well as protecting people from having less severe symptoms and also protect people from dying when they contract the virus," Chan said when asked by a reporter whether the government would roll out the vaccine passport.

She added that the idea of vaccine passport is "not something new" as people are now required to show their vaccination certificates before entering certain premises such as karaoke and "type D" restaurants where all staff members have been fully vaccinated and customers have received at least one vaccine dose.

"If we are to put in place this requirement, I think the most important thing is for the operators of these premises to be cooperative, and for people who have not been vaccinated for no reason to get vaccinated, so that the entire society is protected against COVID-19," she said.

Nearly 27,000 received booster shots

Beginning from Thursday, people with weak immunity and high risks of infection with the virus could receive their booster shot for free under the government's vaccination program.

ALSO READ: HK to give third jab to residents at high risk for COVID-19

As of 7 pm Friday, a total of 26,925 eligible Hong Kong people had taken their third dose, according to the latest official data.

Since the launch of the inoculation program in late February, more than 4.66 million people, or 69.3 percent of the eligible population, have taken at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Around 4.46 million people, or 66.3 percent, are fully vaccinated.