As you may know, earlier, the Chief Executive has announced that upon resumption of quarantine-free travel to the Mainland, priority will be given to personnel with business needs, subject to a quota arrangement.
We have advised the Government that the shipping sector, as a truly global industry, should be included in the new scheme because many of the shipping personnel would need to travel frequently to both the Mainland and other parts of the world.
Today, we are pleased to learn from the Government that the logistics, port and shipping sectors have been included as one of the priority groups. And the Government would like to seek nominations into this priority group, through members of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association (among others).
The details are set out below.
Eligibility
For an enterprise with a valid business registration certificate issued under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) and having an operating base relating to logistics, port and/or shipping business in the Mainland, either (a) the owner and up to one person employed and so authorised by the enterprise or (b) up to two personnel employed and so authorised by the enterprise can be nominated into the priority group. Each nominee must declare that he/she is travelling to the Mainland to support the business operation in the Mainland. Other criteria may be included subject to further announcement on the details of the quarantine-free travel arrangements.
Support Documents
The following support documents are required to prove that the nominees meet the criteria set out above –
a) Copy of Hong Kong Identification Card or Passport of each personnel;
b) Copy of Business Registration Certificate of the enterprise; and
c) Copy of Business Licence of the operating base in the Mainland.
The pro forma
To enable us to consolidate the nominations from member companies (at most two personnel from each company), I would be grateful if you would provide the information as required in the attached excel form, together with the necessary support documents, by returning to this circular by Monday, 13 December.
Last but not least, please pay attention to this piece of advice from the Transport and Housing Bureau: "for the purpose of processing applications in relation to the quota booking system when the quarantine-free travel to the Mainland scheme is launched, the personal data of the nominees provided via the attached excel form/relevant supporting documents will be shared with the relevant bureaux and departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. In submitting the applications, the nominees consent to our release of the personal data concerned to the relevant bureaux and departments of the HKSAR Government. As the quotas are limited, eligible persons nominated under priority groups might not be guaranteed for a quarantine-free quota. Details of the quarantine-free travel and quota arrangements will be announced by the HKSAR Government in due course.”
Thank you for your attention.
