Starting January 2022, Regala Skycity Hotel (Regala) on Lantau Island will be added as a designated quarantine facility (DQF) for foreign domestic helpers coming to work in Hong Kong, the Labour Department announced today.

Regala will serve as a new DQF with an additional 1,138 rooms for the quarantine of helpers.

Starting January 3, Phases 1 and 2 of the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre (PBQC) will cease taking reservations for such helpers.

As the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly around the world, the Government explained that it needs to reserve all rooms at the PBQC for quarantine purposes to prevent the variant from entering the community.

In its initial period serving as a DQF, Regala will assist the Government in arranging by phases the intake of helpers staying at the PBQC to continue their quarantine in the hotel.

The Government said it will bear relevant costs, including the difference in room rates between the hotel and the PBQC. It will also notify the helpers, employers and employment agencies concerned that they do not need to bear any additional costs.

It added that it will inform them of the transfer arrangements individually according to schedule.

While most of the rooms at the Regala will be reserved under the above arrangements in January 2022, its remaining rooms will be open for quarantine of other newly arriving helpers, the Government noted.

From 9.30am tomorrow, employers and employment agencies may reserve a room on or after January 5, 2022, via Regala’s online booking system. A fee of $750 per night per room, including three meals and all charges, will be due.

For enquiries, call 2717 1771 or send an email to the Labour Department.