HK Launches Health Code Ahead Of Border Reopening

The government has officially launched Hong Kong's health code system, but has stressed that there is no plan to use it within the SAR.

People hoping to travel quarantine-free to the mainland once the border reopens will be able to sign up for a code from December 10 to get familiar with it.

Applicants have to register with their real name and submit proof of their residential address when they make the application online.

They will also have to upload their visit records from the LeaveHomeSafe app.

Users will be given a green, amber or red code depending on whether they are infected, observing quarantine or are at risk of catching Covid-19.

Those with a green code will be allowed to cross the border without quarantine in future, but they will first need to convert their Hong Kong health code to the mainland or Macau versions - a function that is not available for now.

Government Chief Information Officer Victor Lam stressed that people's privacy won't be affected.

"Everything that the user provides is on his or her consent. The visit records will not be transferred automatically to the mainland or Macau authorities. Only when he or she is an infected person or has a high risk of infection, for example is identified as a close contact, then the mainland authorities can ask for the visit records of that particular person," he said.

At a press conference on Thursday, officials said people who have no plans to visit the mainland won't have to download the Hong Kong health code or update their LeaveHomeSafe app to the latest version.

"We don't have any plan to use the Hong Kong health code locally, because at the present moment, we have the LeaveHomeSafe [app]. It can offer the necessary support for us to control the Covid-19 epidemic," said Innovation and Technology Secretary Alfred Sit.

Sit also said the government doesn't plan right now to make real-name registration a must for the LeaveHomeSafe app.

The government said it will also send teams into the community, such as to housing estates and MTR stations, to help people who want to register for a health code.

Meanwhile, with the LeaveHomeSafe app becoming mandatory at more premises from December 9, officials also said they are liaising with telecom firms and charity groups to give free mobile phones and telephone cards to people in need.

Braille text will also be put up at various establishments so people with visual impairments can use the app more easily, the government said.