Take a vacation, get static managed https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/06/china...hnk/index.html . These folks can’t catch a break.

When there's a compound lockdown, do other residents know who had the positive test, either officially (notice posted on door like IIRC Singapore did) or through the grapevine (lack of confidentiality)?

In the case of my compound, we always know who the positives are.
1. Their specific buildings get sealed
2. They are mentioned in our WeChat groups. I wouldn't call these "official", but the community leader (who works for the government) is a member

Social pressure in the Confucian sense (e.g. focus on the community) is a major part of the equation. This is why public shaming comes into play.

We haven't had any positives since the end of the big lockdown in my compound. Other places have, but the new lockdowns have been quite short in cases that I'm aware of.

That having been said, the current Sanya situation doesn't seem pleasant, based on what I've read thus far. Most of the 80,000 people locked down there don't live in Sanya, so they are stuck in hotel rooms. Apparently, their room rates were slashed by 50% per government order.

I heard that hotels are complying -- by giving guests 50% of the high season, winter rates. It's currently low season so the "discounted" lockdown rates are actually higher than the regular low season rates tourists originally booked.

Yeah but do they get EQNs though? :D

I didn't know this. My (seemingly unfounded) assumption was that the boys up north were really trying to help the trapped tourists. I suppose the situation isn't so bad for people staying in villas with private pools.

Now that Hong Kong quarantine is only 3 days, does anyone think it's easier to go to Hong Kong, go through the 3 day quarantine, get a visa for the mainland in Hong Kong, and then fly from Hong Kong to the mainland?

As far as I know, any one can apply for a mainland visa in Hong Kong at the Chinese Foreign Ministry Commissioner's Office -- you don't need Hong Kong residence -- and they recently updated their guidelines to allow Q and S visas to be processed.Notice on the Adjustment of Requirements for Chinese Visa Application During COVID-19 Pandemic

Sounds like it could be very expensive if they're stuck at a high-end property even if it's 50% off. However, if it's cheap, it could be a nice way to earn some EQNs.

It's a Government-mandated rate. "No".

We discussed the HK option in the "London to China" thread, though not the visa aspect (OP already has one). The real issue seems to be that getting from HK to the Mainland isn't easy (e.g. few flights, lottery system for land crossings, need to prebook hotels in Zhuhai). It seems that it is possible to pay people to facilitate the land crossing to Zhuhai or Shenzhen.

It’s still 7 days you need to stay in HK and all at a hotel if you’re a visitor without a place in HK. So there really isn’t much change other than being able to get fresh air for the final 4 days.

Getting from HK to the mainland is pretty much impossible now, it’s really like winning the lotto to get a border crossing slot or getting a flight into the mainland.

Basically China doesn’t want anyone to come but if you insist they will make it as painful on you and your wallet as possible. Once you’re inside you also are under constant surveillance and under threat of lockdown of undetermined time.

I’d advise anyone to avoid this place now unless it’s for family or a life changing amount of money.

No to what?

​​​​​​​Have you been to HK at all since the start of the pandemic?

Hong Kong is a nice place but it certainly isn’t nice enough to warrant quarantines on both sides of the border.

You didn't ask me, but I went there in March 2020. There was no Q in HK yet and Shanghai (upon return) was using an honors system home quarantine. Now, things are different of course. Many of us have business in HK, and used to go there for 2-3 days at a time. At present, the 2-3 day trips would require a minimum of 16 days and cost at least $4000 (probably $5k+ tbh). And, the return flight would probably go to somewhere like Xiamen because Shanghai flights are impossible to book even if they exist. The short of it is that we communicate with HK clients and potential clients electronically.

I was in HK from March - August 2020, then Shenzhen from August - March 2021, and HK again from March - December 2021 at which point I left, never to return. What do you want to know?

Are you sure about this? You are allowed to go anywhere in HK other than high-risk venues. Unless they explicitly state that you are not allowed to leave HK then you are.

The extra 4 (or to be precise, 7) days are labelled as self-monitoring so technically it's not quarantine.

Under the previous regime of 7+7 (also seven days self-monitoring), you certainly were allowed to leave HK during the self-monitoring period. So unless there is explicit wording banning this under the new scheme, then I would assume that you are free to leave HK during the +4/+7 period.

Totally agree.....,although I'd add the following to the list: regular work, work experience, tourism, family reunion, study, etc.
😀

I beleive travelinmanS only made comparsion between 7 verus 3+4 from the perspective of a visitor. He did not say anyting about leaving HK.
I think travelinmanS is right. If one is a tourist or does not have a residence or a friend/relative to stay with in HK, the last four-day is still a hotel stay. The only difference is the ability leave the hotel room visiting venues and places that are allowed.

I have had three quarantine stays at designated HK quarantine hotels and were able to earn hotel nights and points.

But if you are a tourist, wouldn't you need a place to stay anyways? And you can leave HK as soon as your Chinese visa is issued. Schedule the visa appointment for day 4, pay the expedite fee, pick it up day 5, take a late flight on day 5 or early flight on day 6. You don't need to wait 7 days before leaving.

And that highlights one glaring difference between how Covid policies are enacted in HK and Mainland China. In HK, quarantine hotels may be designated by the authorities but it's up to the poor old traveller to find availability and book one competitively through the hotel's booking channels... hence HK Bonvoy hotels awarded points and qualifying nights as usual. I cannot speak for the Sanya situation but my experience with a quarantine hotel entering the mainland (specifically the land border from HK in Shenzhen) was that you are billeted to an authority-managed quarantine facility that happens to be a hotel (in my case one of the Glorious Vienna Hotels) that have effectively subcontracted their facilities and rooms to the Greater Good and consequently there were numerous reports of Bonvoy members whose delight at finding themselves in a Bonvoy hotel for quarantine in some major Chinese city turned to abject distress when they discovered they wouldn't be getting points or nights.

Sounds slick. What's the reality?

I would like to know too.

Same here.

It sounds great in theory, and completely skips having to deal with the Chinese consulates (no health code needed flying from HK to the mainland).

Just wondering if anyone has spotted a flaw in this proposal, and/or is brave enough to try it.

As I said, I am not commenting on "leaving HK". or "going to Mainland". My post was about comparing the difference between 7-day quarantine versus 3+4 newly relaxed requirements.
I cannot comment on getting PRC visa from HK. All I know is that it is not business as usual as before Covid when getting PRC visa in HK was pretthy easy. All I know is most of my local HK colleguages are having difficutlies entering China. Foreign passport holders (non-HK residents) even more challenging, but I have no data point to share other than hearing stories told by my local HK colleagues.

I would suggest you call CITS HK directly and understand the current entry policy for China before deciding whether to make the trip to HK. I hope all work out for you.

Yeah, the flaw is this ain’t gonna happen. Good luck trying though.

I wouldn't give him zero percent odds, but there is no way I could recommend this approach in good conscience to someone without a PRC visa (or people with visas who aren't prepared to spend an extra month in HK)
1. Getting rejected for the visa application is a real possibility, no matter whether or not he meets the requirements because rules change all the time and there is a subjective element to the process that us mere mortals can't control
2. If he does manage to score a flight from HK to Xiamen or wherever, that flight might not actually happen, and Xiamen Airlines doesn't care enough to put him on its next flight (it could be three weeks later anyway)

​​​​​​

If I test positive at any point during the 3+4 quarantine, I'm assuming I'll be sent to a facility for a minimum of 21 days? Is it possible to book a one-week trip? During those last four days, it seems like I can do most things except for visiting seniors' homes or bars, which hm ok with.

Until you test negative, no min period.

And restaurants. They're thinking of hospitals (where you're not the patient (e.g. a visitor) as well.

What if I test positive on day 4, but negative by day 10?

No restaurants too? Is this confirmed?

You stay til Day 10

Restaurants are definitely no go for yellow code - any premise where the operator has to check you in is out of bounds.

What if I have a flight on day 9, but still test positive?

I may do this if I really need to travel to China in the next few months, if I can get a visa before arriving in HK. Not having to go through the health code process is still a plus, and I do have a few friends in HK I've been wanting to visit. Also, HK-mainland flights are exempt from the circuit breaker system, and still quite a bit cheaper.

1. Get a China visa in your home country
2. Your reliance on HK-China flights operating is laughable
3. If you want to try to game the lottery system, do so before your trip (I'm guessing $1000 for a consolidated bribe; this includes their mark-up on hotel costs in Zhuhai)

You can still go into the restaurant for takeaways, colour restrictions only apply for eating-in.

If you're positive by PCR then you're stuck in HK until you test negative. If it's a RAT then you could conceal the fact if your next destination does not require a negative RAT/PCR test.

He was quoting a poster who specifically talked about going to China via HK.

In any case, while three days in Q probably will deter most visitors, the freedom for the subsequent 4/7 days is significant. You can do pretty much everything apart from eating in or clubbing (takeaways are still allowed, they'll even let you into the restaurant to do the order and pickup, no QR scanning required). For example, you could visit Disneyland.

Essentially you will get exactly the same treatment as someone in HK who is currently unvaccinated (< 3 doses).

I wonder if anyone knows. I want to take a flight from LHR-PVG-HKG. It is only a transit in PVG, so I will stay airside. Is that allowed currently in PVG?

1. There aren't any flights between London and China
2. When they restart (maybe pretty soon), they will cost a lot more than LHR-HKG
3. I don't think airside transit is allowed, but I'd be most concerned about PVG-HKG not happening (I think there are only around two flights per month)

percysmith (and others): Can you comment on what HKG-Mainland flights are:
1. Easiest to book
2. Least likely to be axed
3. Least expensive
4. Would you trust KA more than Mainland carriers?
?

#3 is certainly less important than points 1 and 2. Furthermore, I'm guessing there isn't a huge price difference between the lowest and the highest, but if Quanzhou costs $100 less than Changsha, I'd grab Quanzhou because my entire time in either place would be spent in a hotel room (unless I knew I could score a really nice hotel in Changsha).

#2 is key for anyone who wants to try this. I'm thinking of relatively high frequency (e.g. 2+ flights/week) and important. It's somewhat perplexing that Shanghai doesn't meet the mark, but let's just play the ball as it lies.

Regarding #4
-I follow the CX forum here, and therefore get the fact that CX/KA have serious operational issues, especially on Mainland flights (well, LHR as well)
-The thing is, I also know that CA, CZ, MU, MF have no problem leaving customers high and dry (i.e. they are pretty good at refunds, but you'll be on your own to sort things out)

As we've discussed in the London thread, both Korea and Taiwan are better options than Hong Kong from reliability and cost standpoints. For non-residents, getting a PRC visa in either of these places is almost impossible (so, don't try them unless you have a visa or RP). Furthermore, Taiwan is only viable if you have permission to enter Taiwan.