Mainland’s shortened quarantine period for inbound travel could trigger HK to ease: analyst

Quarantine in the Mainland was cut to 10 days from 21 days.

China’s move to cut its quarantine period for inbound travel might trigger Hong Kong to follow suit, according to Jefferies.

On 28 June, the State Council of China reduced its quarantine time for overseas arrivals from 21 days to 10 days or seven days of centralised quarantine plus three days of home health monitoring.

Previously, inbound travellers had to quarantine for 14 days, and monitor themselves at home for seven more days. 

In Hong Kong, visitors need to undergo a seven-day hotel quarantine, whilst an HK-based passenger crew need to isolate for three days. Cargo crew, on the other hand, are not required to undergo quarantine.

READ MORE: Resumption of quarantine-free travel to Mainland on track: Lam

With China’s recent move, Jefferies raised the possibility that HK could change its quarantine period for visitors to the same as an HK crew. 

Meanwhile, the analyst said the Mainland’s reduced quarantine period for inbound travel could only “gradually” increase the international passenger capacity of Chinese airlines given that China still has a “one country, one route, one airline” policy.

“We expect this will cap the pace of domestic flights shifting to international routes,” the analyst said.