What the new 'event premises' arrangement is all about

This will be in place for two weeks until 4 August.

The Hong Kong government has decided to retain existing social distancing measures as well as introduce a new type of scheduled premises, called “event premises.”

The arrangement will specify restrictions and requirements in certain events to allow social and economic activities to resume, whilst ensuring health measures are observed. It will take effect from 22 July until 4 August.

"Many social and economic activities have gradually resumed overtime under the two phases of relaxation of social distancing measures based on 'vaccine bubble', allowing the general public to resume normal life slowly,” a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said.

"However, we note that members of the public may not be fully certain of the restrictions and requirements applicable to individual activities, especially for closed-door activities held in premises accessible by the public.”

The “event premises” will apply to meetings, forums, symposiums, exhibitions, ceremonial events, and celebratory events.

"If the vaccination rate in Hong Kong can be raised sooner to achieve herd immunity, the social distancing measures can be further relaxed to allow Hong Kong to return to normality as soon as possible.”

Under the arrangement, the number of participants allowed would be 100% of the normal capacity, if at least two-thirds of the participants have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Otherwise, only 50% of the normal capacity can be allowed.

Moreover, unless otherwise specified, no more than four persons or the number of persons living in the same household, whichever is more, may be allowed in each group of guests or participants.

This is except when the persons are participating in a photo-taking session and all of the relevant persons are wearing masks.

For auditoriums, seats that can be occupied cannot exceed 85% of the capacity and no more than six consecutive seats in the same row may be occupied.

Read more here.