The Government announced today that starting from March 1, all foreign domestic helpers coming to work in Hong Kong can choose to undertake compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine facilities (DQFs) or designated quarantine hotels (DQHs).

All overseas places are Group A specified places and inbound travellers from them are subject to the same quarantine arrangements, including compulsory quarantine for 14 days at a DQH.

Starting from March 1, FDHs coming to work in the city may, apart from choosing compulsory quarantine at DQFs, choose compulsory quarantine at DQHs as with other inbound travellers from overseas places.

The Government also decided to convert Regala Skycity Hotel and iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel, which are serving as DQFs for domestic helpers, into community isolation facilities in conjunction with the implementation of the Community Isolation Facility Hotel Scheme. The scheme provides isolated accommodation to people testing positive for COVID-19 but have no or mild symptoms.

People residing in the two hotels will be transferred to other DQF/DQHs. As for the helpers who have reserved places at these facilities from March 1 onwards, employers or employment agencies should reserve other DQFs/DQHs for them with room fees already paid to be refunded.

The Government will arrange for the helpers checking into Regala before March 1 to transfer to Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong Sha Tin to continue their quarantine. The helpers, employers or employment agencies need not separately reserve a room for them to continue their quarantine.

Regala will refund the room fees for the remaining days of quarantine. Courtyard by Marriott will inform the employers or the agencies to collect the room fees for the remaining days of quarantine with any difference in room rates to be borne by the Government.

For helpers whose quarantine completion date as specified on the compulsory quarantine order falls before February 24, they will continue to complete their quarantine at Regala.

For helpers who are originally checking into Regala or iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel on or after March 1, the hotels will refund the room fees in full. Employers or employment agencies may make a reservation at other DQFs/DQHs.

Click here for information concerning all DQHs. The list of other DQFs is in the annex.

Call the Labour Department’s 24-hour hotline 2717 1771 or email to fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk.