This undated photo shows a view of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (PHOTO / VCG)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong government has announced to suspend quarantine exemptions for travelers coming to the city from Zhuhai through the Return2hk and Come2hk schemes.

In a statement issued late Monday, a spokesman for the government said Xiangzhou district of Zhuhai in Guangdong province will be designated as one of the at-risk places that are temporarily inapplicable under the Return2hk and Come2hk schemes. 

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Given that the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port is situated in Xiangzhou district, anyone arriving from the Zhuhai Port to Hong Kong through the HZMB will not be exempted from compulsory quarantine under the Return2hk or Come2hk Scheme from January 18

The schemes allow quarantine free travel for people from the mainland.

“Given that the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port is situated in Xiangzhou district, anyone arriving from the Zhuhai Port to Hong Kong through the HZMB will not be exempted from compulsory quarantine under the Return2hk or Come2hk Scheme from January 18,” according to the spokesman.

From Tuesday, quota applications for entering Hong Kong from the Zhuhai Port through the HZMB under the Return2hk and Come2hk Schemes will be suspended.

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Those who have applied for quotas to enter Hong Kong from the Zhuhai Port through the HZMB under those schemes will not be exempted from compulsory quarantine using the relevant boundary control point to enter Hong Kong.

The government will send SMS notifications to inform those who have already applied for quotas and are affected by the arrangement.