Hong Kong’s 'zero Covid' approach leaves residents frustrated and longing for travel

Prior to the pandemic, Hongkongers were known as some of the most frequent travelers in the world.

In 2019, Hong Kong residents recorded 94.7 million departures, as reported by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department.

Popular destinations for weekend trips and business travel included Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and mainland China, while Europe, North America, and Australia attracted Hongkongers for longer vacations.

However, since the pandemic began, travel restrictions and one of the longest quarantines in the world have kept residents grounded.

Fully vaccinated arrivals are required to undergo a self-funded quarantine at a government-approved hotel for 7 to 21 days, effective as of August 9.

Hopes for any upcoming travel bubbles have fluctuated. Authorities previously hinted at a potential agreement with Singapore, only to indefinitely cancel the plans in May.

On the positive side, Hong Kong’s strict safety protocols have kept infection rates remarkably low, with only 12,020 total cases and 212 deaths in a city of 7.5 million as of August 10.

While residents are thankful for the safety, many are also feeling jealous, frustrated, and even angry as they watch other parts of the world gradually reopen.

“At first, I felt lucky to be living in Hong Kong. I was proud of how we managed the pandemic and relieved we didn’t face harsh home lockdowns. But now, the situation feels like it’s swung too far the other way,” says Liza, a bank employee born and raised in Hong Kong, speaking to Dinogo Travel. (She requested anonymity due to her employer’s media policies.)

“Whether it's to visit family overseas or simply escape from our hectic, stressful lives, travel is essential to me. It’s the main reason I work and save – to have something exciting to look forward to.”

A remarkable record of safety

Over the past 18 months, many have turned to Hong Kong as a model for effectively containing Covid-19.

When the first case appeared in January 2020, the community quickly set the tone by wearing masks, working from home, enhancing sanitation efforts, and practicing social distancing.

In March 2020, as the US and Europe faced severe outbreaks, Hong Kong implemented a comprehensive set of safety measures: closing borders to non-residents, restricting gatherings to no more than four people, reducing restaurant capacity by half, extending school closures, and temporarily shutting down clubs, karaoke lounges, bars, gyms, and beauty salons.

Since then, officials have alternated between easing and tightening restrictions in response to the second, third, and fourth waves of the pandemic.

Certain measures, such as mandatory mask-wearing and limits on group dining, have been widely viewed as sensible precautions.

However, other measures, like banning birth partners from delivery rooms, implementing surprise district-wide lockdowns, closing beaches, and rapidly shifting travel restrictions, have sparked considerable controversy.

“After the 2019 protests and then facing pandemic restrictions... It impacted my mental health more than I had anticipated,” says Liza.

“We took travel for granted before. While I’m thankful for the safety here, I feel the restrictions are perhaps a bit too cautious,”

Singapore seems out of reach

In the summer of 2020, hopeful travelers saw a flicker of possibility.

The government announced plans for a quarantine-free travel corridor with Singapore, set to launch in November 2020.

However, just as the plan was about to launch, officials canceled it due to a sudden spike in infections in Hong Kong.

Like a boomerang, the government reimposed stricter social distancing measures and banned all arrivals – including Hong Kong residents – from the UK.

Authorities lifted the UK travel ban in May 2021, only to reintroduce it on July 1 due to a surge in Delta variant cases, before lifting it once more on August 9.

Hong Kong and Singapore resumed negotiations on the long-awaited travel bubble in 2021. However, the plan collapsed for a second time in May, this time due to an outbreak in Singapore.

Singapore’s decision to shift away from a 'Zero Covid' strategy – a key element for Hong Kong’s desired bubble with mainland China – also played a role in the cancellation, according to the Straits Times.

Adding to the complexity, Hong Kong is far from reaching its goal of vaccinating 70% of its population by September.

Despite launching a well-organized vaccination campaign in February, only 40.4% of residents had been fully vaccinated as of August 10.

“It’s both a travel issue and a vaccination issue. You can’t have one without the other,” says Liza.

“I get really frustrated when I see so much indifference and misinformation. A former colleague told me they refused the vaccine because a psychic on TV advised against it.”

“That infuriates me because it’s unlikely we’ll regain the freedom to travel until more people get vaccinated.”

A constantly shifting situation

Until August 9, all arrivals were required to undergo a self-funded, mandatory quarantine ranging from 14 to 21 days in a designated quarantine hotel.

“It’s intentionally restrictive. Yes, it’s meant to keep us safe, but it’s also designed to discourage travel in the first place,” says Liza.

In April 2021, the government eased restrictions for fully vaccinated residents and made further adjustments on August 9, allowing some fully vaccinated non-residents to enter.

The city has also streamlined its risk classification system, reducing it from five categories to just three: low, medium, and high.

For low-risk destinations – including New Zealand, Australia, mainland China, and Macao – both residents and non-residents can enter Hong Kong if they present negative PCR Covid-19 test results within 72 hours of departure, along with a confirmed hotel quarantine booking.

Fully vaccinated travelers are required to undergo a seven-day quarantine, compared to 14 days for those who are unvaccinated.

Both Hong Kong residents and fully vaccinated non-residents can enter from medium-risk locations, such as the US, Singapore, France, Germany, and Canada.

Non-vaccinated residents must undergo a 21-day quarantine, while fully vaccinated individuals face a 14-day quarantine followed by seven days of self-monitoring.

Fully vaccinated travelers can reduce their quarantine to seven days, followed by another seven days of self-monitoring at home, if they provide proof of a positive serology antibody test from the past 91 days (or 13 weeks).

Although the government has lifted blanket travel bans from high-risk countries – including the Philippines, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Nepal, Ireland, India, and the UK – only fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents are permitted to board flights to the city.

Additionally, arrivals must quarantine for 21 days in a designated hotel, followed by seven days of self-monitoring.

Among the revised policies, authorities have also relaxed restrictions for children under 12, allowing them to complete their quarantine at home, provided all household members are fully vaccinated.

The Hong Kong government maintains that its requirements, including multiple tests before boarding, on arrival, and during and after quarantine, are based on scientific principles. 'These measures are adjusted as necessary to build an anti-epidemic barrier and prevent the importation of cases,' it stated in a press release.

It further emphasized that it would continue to evaluate risks and a range of factors before making any adjustments to testing, boarding, and quarantine requirements.

Dinogo Travel reached out to the Hong Kong government for additional comment but did not receive a response before publication.

A whirlwind of emotions

The constantly shifting rules and regulations have left many potential travelers feeling dizzy and frustrated.

One of them is Maisie Fairweather, an elementary school teacher from the UK, who moved to Hong Kong in 2019 after teaching in Thailand.

Before the pandemic, Fairweather was an avid traveler, frequently taking long weekend trips around Southeast Asia with her partner and friends.

After a trip to the Philippines during the Lunar New Year in 2020, Fairweather had her first experience of traveling in a pandemic-stricken world.

“We had an amazing trip with friends, but things took a sudden and frightening turn,” she recalls. “Our flight home was canceled, I think because of rising case numbers in Hong Kong and China, and we ended up having to travel to Taiwan just to get back.”

That was her last trip for 18 months. She describes the current restrictions as 'infuriating, heartbreaking, and cruel,' especially because they keep families apart.

“The hardest part has definitely been the separation from family and friends around the world,” she says.

When the Hong Kong government eased quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers from the UK earlier this summer, she thought she might finally get the chance to see her family.

Fairweather booked her flights home, eagerly anticipating the reunion. But then, the Hong Kong government unexpectedly extended the quarantine to three weeks for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

Then, on July 1, the government banned flights from the UK, putting an end to her long-planned trip. Although the ban was lifted on August 9, Fairweather says it’s too late to travel now with the new school year beginning on August 16.

“It’s incredibly frustrating. It feels like for every step forward, we take two steps back. I have to remain hopeful, though, and trust that these new changes will lead to a family reunion by Christmas,” she shares.

“I want to emphasize how grateful I am to be safe and healthy in Hong Kong. I understand how fortunate I am. But that doesn’t change the fact that I, along with countless others, feel heartbroken – and friends who had already left are now stranded.”

The most challenging aspect of the travel restrictions, she explains, isn’t the restrictions themselves, but the constant shifts and uncertainty.

“You hesitate to make any plans or get your hopes up. It feels like an endless cycle. Just when you think there’s progress, everything falls apart again,” she says.

Before the pandemic, Fairweather imagined she’d stay in Hong Kong for the long term. But the ongoing travel restrictions are now making her reconsider that future.

“I feel frustrated, angry, and at times, hopeless. I know so many people who have left Hong Kong to return to the UK or elsewhere... and maybe that’s our future too. I never thought about leaving before the pandemic.”

“But now, all I can think about is that first hug with my mum – there won’t be enough tissues to wipe away all those tears of joy!”

‘Trapped in a small bubble’

Seeing people from countries like the US and UK traveling freely makes Ivor Ngo feel a wave of envy.

For Ivor, a sales and marketing manager born in Hong Kong, traveling is a passion. He used to take annual two-week trips to Europe for work and would also make at least two short trips each year to Southeast Asia and Japan.

“This is the longest I’ve ever stayed in Hong Kong since I turned 18,” he reflects.

“My friends and I used to criticize people in the US or UK for traveling irresponsibly... But now, we realize there’s nothing we can do to make this virus disappear. We believe that if we follow all safety measures, we should be able to travel again.”

If the ongoing quarantine measures for vaccinated residents persist, Ngo says he might consider leaving Hong Kong.

“I’m already looking into possibilities to relocate. At 31, I feel it's the right time to embrace new experiences and start fresh elsewhere,” he adds.

While Hong Kong boasts many parks, hiking trails, and beaches, it is much smaller compared to other Asia-Pacific locations. Unlike countries like Australia, Thailand, or mainland China, where residents have more opportunities for domestic travel, Hongkongers have fewer choices.

Popular domestic tourist spots, such as the fishing village of Tai O, Shek O Beach, the outlying islands, and Sai Kung, have become overcrowded as locals flock to these destinations for a much-needed getaway.

“Knowing that all these places are open to travel, but being stuck here in Hong Kong instead… that’s not really living,” Ngo says.

Liza agrees. “When I see other parts of the world learning to live with this dreadful virus, it feels like my freedom is slipping away,” she reflects.

“It’s not about going to restaurants or the gym. It’s about being able to travel, to see my family and friends, and to get a mental break from all this. If we didn’t have so many ties here, we’d probably be considering leaving by now.”

It feels like Hong Kong is “stuck in a bubble,” she adds. While the city has managed to keep people safe, the emotional and psychological toll has been immense.

“People are carrying on as if everything is ‘normal’ since we aren’t under lockdown, but this is far from normal,” says Liza.

Responsible or too restrictive?

While many are grateful that the government has lifted the flight bans from the UK, some residents in Hong Kong still find the mandatory 21-day quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers far too limiting.

“We could manage seven days in a hotel room with a baby, followed by another seven days of home quarantine with monitoring and multiple tests,” says Liza, who has a six-month-old child. “But 21 days feels excessive. We need to figure out how to live with this in the long term.”

Iris Law, a wellness coach and author born in Hong Kong, acknowledges the necessity of the restrictions, but believes that a 14-day quarantine would be more reasonable for vaccinated travelers arriving from high-risk regions.

“While most people wouldn’t welcome quarantine measures and travel restrictions, I believe they are necessary given the long incubation period of Covid-19, the potential severity of the disease, and the rapid spread of new variants,” explains Law.

“Statistics show that the strict measures we’ve implemented have been far more successful in controlling the virus than the more relaxed rules seen in other countries,” she adds.

“Especially in Hong Kong, where the population density is so high, I’m confident that these regulations have kept us from needing a full lockdown,” she says.

Before the pandemic, the Hong Kong native often traveled for both leisure and work, particularly to Japan, which she visited five to six times each year. Though she misses traveling, she insists that safety must come first.

With the emergence of new variants overseas and low local vaccination rates, Law doesn’t believe it would be safe to reopen the borders anytime soon.

“I believe that in the next one to two years, Hong Kong will establish travel bubbles with nearby destinations,” says Law. “However, I’m afraid that it will take at least three to four years before we can return to fully unrestricted travel,”