(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Hong Kong has reached a milestone agreement with Singapore to establish a travel bubble with a view to reviving air travel between the two places in a safe and progressive way.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau made the remarks at a media session this afternoon where he outlined details of the in-principle agreement on the Air Travel Bubble (ATB).

Under the agreement, ATB travellers will be subject to mutually recognised COVID-19 tests and need to have negative test results.

Travellers under the ATB should also travel on the flights that will only serve them. No transit passengers or non-ATB travellers will be allowed on board.

The agreement imposes no restrictions on their travel purpose and they will not be subject to any quarantine or Stay-Home Notice requirements or a controlled itinerary upon arrival.

Mr Yau said: “It is an important milestone today that we have reached an agreement with the Singapore side to proceed with this framework. The remaining work is to finalise all the details with a view to allowing people to travel through this bubble arrangement as soon as possible.

“We hope to use the coming few weeks to put in place all these requirements, which involve certain legislative amendments, arrangements with airports and airlines, and also mutual recognition of testing protocols.”

He added that the arrangement could be adjusted according to the latest COVID-19 developments in both places.

“It could be further relaxed if both sides feel more comfortable or are seeing an obvious improvement in the containment of the virus.

“But if circumstances somehow do not allow us to do so, then there would be a mechanism for us to adjust it, to reduce it or if really need be, a temporary suspension.”

The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau said the Hong Kong-Singapore ATB's launch date and implementation details will be announced in due course.