Hong Kong scraps LeaveHomeSafe check-in requirements

HongKongers will no longer have to scan their Covid-19 LeaveHomeSafe app to enter restaurants and designated venues from 14 December, however they are still required to show their vaccine proofs. 

Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee said at a press conference on 13 December, that starting from Wednesday, people in the city would not need to scan QR codes with their LeaveHomeSafe app when entering premises.

Under the new rules, travellers will also not be issued an amber code in their LeaveHomeSafe apps, hence they will be able to enter restaurants and other businesses during their first three days after landing in Hong Kong. However the border still requires arrivals to reveal their vaccine proofs, undertake several rounds of testing, and fill in a health declaration form.

Previously, arrivals were issued an amber code on their health app even if they tested negative and were banned from entering restaurants, gyms and beauty parlours during their first three days. They were only allowed to move freely around the city if they tested negative on the third day. 

The announcements have drawn positive sentiments from netizens across social platforms, a check by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE saw on local forum LIHKG that some said their older relatives which do not have a smart phone can now enter premises with their vaccine proofs, while some said they already deleted the LeaveHomeSafe app. 

Social monitoring firm CARMA saw over 5,000 media mentions related to the announcement over the past 24 hours. The sentiments of these mentions were largely neutral (74%). CARMA's Hong Kong GM Charles Cheung said that many netizens appeared to be excited about the potential bounce back of the tourism industry in Hong Kong, which has been experiencing a downturn.

"While most netizens welcomed the lift of the LeaveHomeSafe app, some expressed confusion with the fact that Vaccine Pass is still a mandatory requirement. We also saw discussions about the rumours that the border between Hong Kong and mainland China may reopen in January 2023," Cheung added. 

Lee said the latest adjustments were based on data and risk assessment, “The risk of imported cases to Hong Kong is even lower than the risk of getting infected in the community.” 

He said that under the new rules, the LeaveHomeSafe app will only issue two different codes, including red for those infected and blue for the uninfected. He also said that cancelling the amber code arrangements will not increase the risk of getting infected locally.

This comes after China’s latest decisions on easing pandemic curbs including relaxing Covid-19 test requirements and the use of a health code when entering certain premises.

Lee commented that the resumption of “normal travel” between Hong Kong and China was “close to [his] heart”, “I’ll do everything that can facilitate it, but we also must be aware that the decision must similarly be made on the actual situation… but I think that all people want to have as few restrictions as possible,” Lee said.

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