Vaccine pass plan explained

February 8, 2022

Permanent Secretary for Food & Health (Health) Thomas Chan: 

The regulation itself does not provide any additional power for entry into any private premises. It does prohibit multi-household gatherings from taking place, but it does not in itself provide the power of entry. 

But I have to say, the enforcement power under the other existing legislation still applies, so in case - I have already said that it is not an area we would seek to proactively enforce - but if need be, there are other provisions, other powers in the relevant law enforcement legislation that we may invoke for the purpose of pursuing or investigating or abating any suspected offence that is taking place. 

As for the vaccination record, yes indeed, we would allow both the electronic vaccination record and the paper record to be used for satisfying the vaccine pass requirement.  

We would require the venue operator to scan the vaccine pass of the customers and that vaccine pass will be in the form of a QR code. 

So if someone takes a paper vaccination record, it will have to be the paper record with the QR code that the restaurant operator can scan.

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

With the implementation of the first phase of the vaccine pass on February 24, the Food & Health Bureau today said that both electronic and paper vaccination records would fulfil the relevant requirements.

Under the vaccine pass arrangements, only those who have received COVID-19 vaccination may be permitted to enter scheduled premises.

At a press briefing this afternoon, Permanent Secretary for Food & Health (Health) Thomas Chan said: “As for the vaccination record, yes indeed, we would allow both the electronic vaccination record and the paper record to be used for satisfying the vaccine pass requirement.

“We would require the venue operator to scan the vaccine pass of the customers and that vaccine pass will be in the form of a QR code.”

He noted that if a customer brings their paper vaccination record, it should contain the QR code for restaurant operators to scan upon arrival at the venue.

Regarding the limit on multi-household gatherings in private premises to two families, Mr Chan said the regulation does not give the authorities any powers to enter private premises to enforce the law.

“The enforcement power under the other existing legislation still applies, so in case - I have already said that it is not an area we would seek to proactively enforce - but if need be, there are other provisions, other powers in the relevant law enforcement legislation that we may invoke for the purpose of pursuing or investigating or abating any suspected offence that is taking place.”