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Singapore & Hong Kong travel bubble opens, but there’s a catch…
Quarantine-free travel between two of the world’s financial centres is now set in stone.
The long awaited Hong Kong and Singapore travel bubble will start on May 26.
Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) said that the travel bubble will have a cautious start.
There will be one flight a day from each city to begin with, and only 200 travellers per aircraft.
From June 10 it will increase to two flights a day.
In order to jump on a flight, travellers from Hong Kong must have had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine at least 14 days before they board.
The announcement also carries some rules for both sides, passengers can’t have visited any other places two weeks before departure.
Negative Covid-19 test results must also be collected within 72 hours of flying.
“I am happy that Hong Kong got the Covid-19 situation under control. It has been a long few months, but the conditions are now ripe again to relaunch the ATB (air travel bubble). Both sides will need to stay very vigilant in the next one month, so that we can launch the first flights smoothly.”
SINGAPORE Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said
For those departing Singapore, passengers must install Hong Kong’s LeaveHomeSafe app on their mobile devices prior to leaving the city for Hong Kong.
The two countries have been working on the creation of a travel bubble for some time now – but Covid outbreaks have prevented an earlier start date.
“With gradual stabilisation of the fourth wave of epidemic in Hong Kong, we have been engaging in active discussion with Singapore on the relaunch of ATB” Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said in a statement.
“The two governments have reached consensus on the latest arrangements and will put in place more stringent public health protocols in response to the latest epidemic development.
“Our goal remains striking a right balance between public health and travel convenience so that the public will feel assured while providing certainty.”
Singapore Airlines’ air travel bubble flight schedule to and from Hong Kong:
SOURCE: SINGAPORE AIRLINES