Hong Kong government bars Singapore Airlines passenger flights from Apr 3 to 16; COVID-19 case detected

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airways (SIA) passenger flights departing from Singapore is not going to be allowed to land in Hong Kong from Saturday (Apr 3) to Apr 16, the federal government of Hong Kong stated on Friday.

The announcement got here in a each day press launch offering updates and COVID-19 case numbers for the territory.

Friday's press launch acknowledged {that a} passenger on SQ882, flying from Singapore to Hong Kong on Mar 31, was confirmed to have COVID-19 by a specimen collected on the Hong Kong Division of Well being's Non permanent Specimen Assortment Centre.

As well as, three passengers had additionally "failed to comply with requirements specified under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)".

In accordance with a Hong Kong authorities web site on COVID-19, the necessities prescribed by Chapter 599H are quarantine-related.

"As such, the Hong Kong Department of Health invoked the regulation to prohibit landing of passenger flights from Singapore operated by Singapore Airlines in Hong Kong from April 3 to 16, 2021," famous the discharge.

ALL FOUR WERE TRANSIT PASSENGERS: SIA

In a collection of statements responding to CNA queries, SIA stated the 4 passengers have been transit passengers, all of whom had damaging pre-departure check outcomes.

One in all them subsequently examined optimistic for COVID-19 upon arrival in Hong Kong. In response to CNA's queries, a spokesperson from Hong Kong's Division of Well being stated on Sunday that the confirmed case is a 28-year-old lady who arrived in Hong Kong from Indonesia. Referred to as Case 11482, she had no signs.

The check paperwork for the opposite three passengers have been "found to not have fully met the regulatory requirements of the Hong Kong authorities", stated SIA.

Singapore's aviation authority stated in a while Friday night that the three had finished their pre-departure exams at clinics of their locations of origin that "did not meet Hong Kong's requirements".

In one in every of its statements, SIA additionally stated its passenger service from Hong Kong to Singapore is just not affected.

"The health and safety of our customers and staff is our top priority. We will continue to work with the authorities to ensure that all passengers meet the regulatory requirements for entry into Hong Kong," stated an SIA spokesperson.

"We will also assist the health authorities in all contact tracing efforts."

The airline added: "SIA has taken immediate steps to strengthen checks at the point of embarkation to ensure that our customers are in compliance with Hong Kong’s regulatory requirements."

The airline additionally apologised to all affected prospects and stated that it's reaching out to them to supply "all necessary assistance" and to minimise the inconvenience prompted.

TRAVEL BUBBLE POSTPONED

Earlier this week, Singapore Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung had stated that the nation is finding out a proposal from Hong Kong to reopen borders safely, after a Hong Kong official stated the territory had resumed discussions on a journey bubble with Singapore.

“We are very happy that Hong Kong has in recent weeks kept the pandemic under good control. This is a very positive development,” Mr Ong stated in an announcement on Monday.

READ: Singapore finding out proposal from Hong Kong to reopen borders safely: Ong Ye Kung

Singapore and Hong Kong have been scheduled to launch an air journey bubble in November final yr but it surely was deferred after Hong Kong noticed a surge in COVID-19 instances.

On Nov 21, a day earlier than flights have been to start, it was introduced that the launch of the journey bubble had been deferred to early December.

It was later pushed again to 2021, with the precise beginning date but to be decided.