Singapore and Hong Kong have decided to further delay the start of the so-called travel bubble between the two territories into sometime next year following a review of Covid-19 case counts in Hong Kong, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said Tuesday. Originally announced on November 11, the Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble (ATB) would have subjected travelers between the South Asian city-state and the Chinese island territory to Covid-19 tests in lieu of quarantines or seven-day stay-at-home notices for Singapore residents. Plans had called for no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.
Singapore and Hong Kong authorities remain in close discussion and will issue an update on further developments by the end of December, the CAAS said in a statement.
Singapore Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung on November 21 announced a two-week deferral of the planned November 22 launch of the ATB flights due to “the evolving Covid-19 situation” in Hong Kong. In its own statement, the Hong Kong Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch acknowledged a rapidly deteriorating epidemic situation and a high likelihood of the need for “immediate adjustments” that if it launched the plan as scheduled.