New restrictions for Macau ferry

Travellers from six countries considered high risk for Covid-19 will have to present a nucleic acid test while conditions for Macau residents are eased.

Macau.- New regulations are in place for travellers entering Macau using the special ferry services coming from Hong Kong.

The Macau government recently announced the ferry service that would run for a month to bring residents back through the restricted area of Hong Kong International Airport.

The twice-daily service is also available for foreign nationals leaving the city.

But health authorities have announced new conditions. While boarding conditions have been relaxed for Macau residents, passengers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia and Brazil, must present on registration a negative Covid-19 nucleic acid test issued by a qualified medical institution in the country of origin.

A total of 1,328 people have registered so far to use the ferry service to return to Macau, of which 660 have already returned, Macau Business reported. Another 692 people purchased ferry tickets to leave Macau, with 248 having already left.

This past week the government also announced that residents may now take the ferry service to Macau within 24 hours of landing at Hong Kong International Airport.

Macau residents intending to take one of the ferry services inbound must have a flight ticket to Hong Kong International Airport and arrive there via services landing on any day up to July 16 inclusive. They are required to register online 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure of their flight.

The government said in a press release: “The update in the conditions is thanks to a relaxation of permissible transit time at Hong Kong International Airport. The updated conditions apply to all Macao-bound ferry services scheduled up to 15 July. Travellers wishing to use the Macao-bound ferries on 16 July, the last day of the special service, can only do so if their flight lands before 10pm that day.”

The ferry service is provided by TurboJET and Cotai Water Jet. The fee for each ferry ticket purchased at Hong Kong International Airport is 270 Hong Kong dollars (US$34.83). For those using ferry services departing Macao, each ticket costs 270 patacas (US$33.8) and tickets can be purchased at several locations.