The Government announced today that it will launch an online booking system at midnight July 14 for outbound travellers to book the special nucleic acid test service at Shenzhen Bay Port.

The arrangement was made to complement the requirement that from Friday, travellers departing via Shenzhen Bay Port need to present their booking confirmation for undergoing the nucleic acid test.

The system allows travellers to reserve testing timeslots in the coming seven days, the Government added.

As the traveller’s name, identification document number and reservation number of the Shenzhen quarantine hotel will be required for booking a testing timeslot, the Government noted that travellers must first secure a room at a Shenzhen quarantine hotel before booking.

On the day of crossing the boundary, travellers should arrive at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point as scheduled and present their SMS or a screen capture of their booking confirmation. Those who fail to do so and are eventually unable to get tested cannot continue with their journey across the boundary.

“The relevant arrangement will help ensure that the special nucleic acid testing service can be provided in an orderly manner at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point to alleviate the prolonged waiting of travellers at the control point and refine the crowd control arrangement for the cross-boundary passenger flow,” the Government said.

The Government also reminded travellers that the result of the special nucleic acid test cannot replace the proof of a negative result of any self-paid nucleic acid test currently required by Mainland or Macau authorities, and that travellers are still subject to the quarantine and testing arrangements of their destinations.

Those who opt to undergo a self-paid test at a community testing centre in Hong Kong can reserve both this self-paid test and the free special rapid nucleic acid test at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point through the same booking system, the Government added.