An aerial photo taken on Aug 24, 2020 shows the Liantang Port/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen boundary. (MAO SIQIAN / XINHUA)

HONG KONG –  Travelers to the mainland and Macao by land will need to undergo an additional rapid nucleic acid test prior to their departure from Hong Kong in light of the severe COVID-19 situation in the city.

In a statement issued on Saturday, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s government said the special arrangement aims to further prevent the exportation of local cases and to support the mainland’s anti-epidemic efforts.  

The process of the rapid PCR nucleic acid test will take about one to two hours. Relevant outbound travelers should allow ample time when traveling to the control points and undergo the test as per the instructions by the staff on site.

Spokesman, HKSAR government

Effective from coming Monday, anyone traveling to the mainland or Macao via the Shenzhen Bay Port or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port will need to undergo an additional rapid polymerase chain reaction nucleic acid test at the control points prior to their departure.

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“Only those who receive a negative result can continue with their journeys,” the spokesman said.

The additional rapid PCR test is free of charge.

Currently, such travelers need a negative result proof of a self-paid nucleic acid test conducted within 48 hours before the scheduled time of their departure.

“The process of the rapid PCR nucleic acid test will take about one to two hours. Relevant outbound travelers should allow ample time when traveling to the control points and undergo the test as per the instructions by the staff on site,”  the spokesman added. 

The government said it will provide the special testing service from one hour before the opening of the passenger clearance buildings until one hour before their closure.  

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The current operating hours of passenger clearance at the Shenzhen Bay and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge control points are from 10 am to 10 pm and from 10 am to 8 pm respectively. 

The spokesman noted that the government is also exploring to require travelers bound for the mainland to undergo an additional rapid PCR nucleic acid test at the Hong Kong International Airport, adding that details will be announced in due course.