Let me translate SBS into English:
Hong Kong government announced further tightening of entry restrictions, to prevent entry of Omicron, the only airline with direct flights between Hong Kong and Australia being Cathay Pacific, continuing to be affected by cross-border travel and operating restrictions, having to cancel some flights to Hong Kong in January, with passengers who bought CX January tickets being forced to change ticket, fearing unable to return to Hong Kong for Chinese new year.
As Australia reopen international border in stages, Omicron arrives, causing everyone's Christmas and new year holiday plans may have to be changed again.
Amy who bought a CX ticket for Melbourne to Hong Kong in January told SBS Chinese, she noticed by accident that CX web site has stopped selling tickets for January: "I feel strange, so I called to ask, before I was told that the flight I booked for had been changed into a cargo flight", and pointed out that CX is yet to notify her officially that her flight had been cancelled, she is waiting for CX to reply if they would allow her to fly to another city in order to travel to HKG.
Another Hong Kong person Cynthia who studies in Adelaide told SBS Chinese, she posts on Facebook group 'Hong Kong hotel quarantine information sharing', and after reading information, also called CX to enquire, before finding out that her flight on Jan 02 from ADL > MEL > HKG had also been cancelled, before CX changing her flight to a same day via Sydney schedule.
She said as Australia closed its border, it's been two years since she could go to Hong Kong, she planned to go to Hong Kong for Chinese new year, worry that her plan would be affected again: "Jan 02 arriving into HKG finishing quarantine exactly one week before Chinese new year, I worry it would be cancelled again, CX does not keep promises, but cannot keep worring, one step at a time".
SBS Chinese been to CX web site and called CX booking hotline, searched for January from Sydney and Melbourne to Hong Kong, both were shown "No flight available", staff also stated January is already full, won't be selling anymore seats, but stressed "System is not showing cancellations, still showing flight states as OK, flights from Feb onward are still available for sale"
CX public relations responsed to SBS Chinese, continuing to be affected by cross-border travel and operating restrictions, unable to operate all scheduled services, they have already reconciled passenger flights for 2022 Jan, including some flights to Hong Kong being cancelled.
CX will contact affected customers ASAP, and arrange alternate flights, passengers could also choose to take a refund, and apologise any inconvenience caused just before holidays.
Hong Kong government yesterday (Dec 20) announced, due to rapid global deteriation of Omicron, tighten entry requirements. Tigntening the 'cutting the rope system' effective from the same day, if there are 4 or more passengers tested positive in a 7 day period for a particular flight route, then that route will be cut for 14 days.
And from Dec 24, all passengers to Hong Kong having to do PCR test 48 hours before boarding, from Dec 21, passengers arriving from 'increased inspection group A areas', the first 4 days after arriving into Hong Kong must quarantine in Pennys Bay, before being able to quarnatine in a hotel, the first 7 days after arrival must be tested daily, and tested every second day during the balance of quarantine period.
Let's refer official
Hong Kong government web site : -
Undergo compulsory quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre for the first seven days, with daily testing and health conditions monitoring by healthcare professionals;
Finish the remaining 14 days of compulsory quarantine at the DQH which they have reserved and undergo testing(1) (professional swab sampling) on alternate days;
Self-monitoring in the subsequent 7 days; and
Compulsory testing on the 26th day of arrival at Hong Kong at any Community Testing Centre (CTC)
Who would sign up for this? Really?
Well my father has. He is on his way to Sydney in 2 weeks from Hong Kong, flying SQ. I do not have a ticket for him to leave Australia yet, as QF does not have any flight themselves, and is only offering CX metal from Feb onwards.
www.scmp.com
