hong kong travel no quarantine

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Inbound arrangements.

• All inbound persons must pass temperature checks upon arrival. Those found with symptoms will be referred to the Department of Health for further handling.
• No further restrictions upon arrival.

Handling Arrangements for Persons Tested Positive After Arrival at Hong Kong

• For persons tested positive after arrival at Hong Kong, please refer to the webpage on Points to Note for Persons who Tested Positive .

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Follow our news, recent searches, no quarantine for travellers arriving in hong kong from mainland china, advertisement.

HONG KONG: Travellers arriving in Hong Kong from mainland China will no longer need to quarantine, Hong Kong’s top official said on Tuesday (Sep 7), easing curbs imposed after summer outbreaks of COVID-19 on the mainland.

Starting on Wednesday, people who haven't been to medium- or high-risk areas on the mainland or Macao can enter the city, capped at 2,000 travellers daily, chief executive Carrie Lam said in a news conference.

Travellers will still need a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival and must take several tests while in Hong Kong to ensure they're not infected.

Hong Kong halted quarantine-free travel in early August and imposed a mandatory quarantine period of seven or 14 days, depending on the traveller's vaccination status.

Hong Kong’s “zero-COVID” strategy has seen authorities impose strict border restrictions and ban flights from extremely high-risk countries, in the hopes that no local community spread would allow it to reopen borders with mainland China.

Currently, China has strict border restrictions that allow only Chinese nationals or those with valid residence permits and visas to enter the country, and all travellers are required to quarantine for at least 14 days.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, most Hong Kong residents haven't been able to freely enter mainland China.

More than 240 Air Travel Passes issued to travellers from Hong Kong, Macao to Singapore: CAAS

Restrictions will ease further next Wednesday, when mainland residents will be able to enter the city without quarantine via the Shenzhen Bay port and via the Hong Kong-Macau-Zhuhai Bridge, capped at 1,000 visitors each, Lam said.

These visitors will also need to test negative before travelling.

The changes, part of the “Come2HK” plan announced last week, are expected to boost the city’s tourism industry, which took a beating during months of political strife in 2019 and pandemic-related border restrictions.

Tourist numbers fell by as much as 99 per cent in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments

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Hong Kong to end mandatory COVID hotel quarantine for travelers

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Hong Kong’s leader announced Friday that the city would no longer require incoming travelers to quarantine in designated hotels, as it seeks to remain competitive and open up globally after nearly two years of strict COVID-19 pandemic rules .

Additionally, incoming travelers will no longer need to have a negative PCR test within 48 hours of boarding a plane to Hong Kong, the city’s chief executive, John Lee, told reporters Friday. Instead, they will need to present a negative result from a rapid antigen test conducted within 24 hours of the flight. The rules go into effect Monday.

“While we can’t control the trend of the epidemic, we must allow the maximum room to allow connectivity with the world so that we can have economic momentum and to reduce inconvenience to arriving travelers,” Lee said, adding that authorities would not roll back the measures announced Friday.

He said there must be a “ balance between risks and economic growth .”

Travelers entering Hong Kong will have to undergo three days of home monitoring. If they test negative for the coronavirus after the three days, they will be allowed into restaurants and other public venues. They must also undergo several mandatory PCR tests, including one on arrival, as well as on the second, fourth and sixth days in Hong Kong, coupled with daily antigen rapid tests during the first week.

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Hong Kong’s easing of regulations sparked a rush for bookings; airline Cathay Pacific’s website was “experiencing high traffic,” officials said. Visitors to the site had to wait in a virtual queue to enter.

The city is reporting fewer than 6,000 coronavirus infections a day, compared with more than 10,000 early this month. A large majority are among residents.

For nearly two years, Hong Kong required those who arrived in the city from overseas to quarantine in designated hotels. At one point, the city had among the world’s longest quarantine periods, at 21 days of enforced isolation.

Neighboring Taiwan — which unlike Hong Kong is self-governed — is expected to ease its requirements next month, leaving mainland China as one of the only places in the world that will require travelers to quarantine upon arrival.

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Hong Kong for most of the pandemic has aligned with China’s “zero-COVID” strategy. Over the last 2½ years, authorities have imposed strict social-distancing measures and locked down residential buildings with confirmed coronavirus infections in order to mass-test residents .

As the rest of the world reopened, businesses urged Hong Kong authorities to come up with an exit strategy from its strict rules in order to remain competitive as tens of thousands of residents left the city. Several companies moved their offices to Singapore or elsewhere as they sought relief from the city’s restrictions.

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Singapore eased travel curbs and relaxed coronavirus restrictions months ago, sparking concerns that Hong Kong might lose out in competitiveness as an international financial center and regional business hub.

Lee said authorities would keep monitoring the situation in Hong Kong to determine whether further relaxation of rules is possible. “If there are positive developments as we progress … there will be more room for us to do extra measures so that we can have more movement, more activities and more room for us to go about different [activities],” he said.

The easing of measures comes as the city prepares for some high-profile events, including the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament in November and an international banking summit.

China earthquake deaths rise to 74 as anger over COVID lockdown grows

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The rugby tournament is returning to the city for the first time since the pandemic began. In a news conference Friday, organizers said risk-mitigation measures will include making sure that all players and officials have had at least two COVID-19 vaccinations.

“The return of the Hong Kong Sevens means business is returning too. And I know we can’t wait for both to fill the stands, and the streets and shops, restaurants and hopefully bars as well,” financial secretary Paul Chan said at a Rugby Sevens news conference.

“The momentum will keep on building. And long beyond. There will be no stopping our many prestigious international events,” Chan said.

The relaxation of travel requirements drew optimistic reactions from some residents in the city. However, there are others who believe that three days of monitoring for arrivals is still an inconvenient measure.

U.S. suspends 26 flights on Chinese airlines — most out of L.A. — in COVID-19 dispute

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“It’s too late. Everybody else has opened up for such a long time,” said Eva Leung.

“The economy has become like this — no one is coming,” she said, adding that it’s still a hassle, especially for business travelers who have to move around the city for work. “It’s still not convenient.”

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Travel Restrictions: Hong Kong’s Latest Covid-19 Entry Requirements & Quarantine Rules

(Last updated on 1 April 2022) As the severity and extent of the Covid-19 pandemic change, so the rules for entering Hong Kong are adjusted. All international arrivals must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 48 hours prior to departure (and documents showing that the testing lab is ISO15189 accredited or Hong Kong government-recognised), a 7-day quarantine hotel booking, and a vaccination record.

Rules for all international arrivals (except China and Taiwan)

Beginning April 1, 2022, there is no longer any distinction between high-risk, medium-rish, and low-risk countries. The following rules apply to all overseas countries.

If travellers test negative in initial arrival tests, they will be issued a 14-day hotel quarantine order. This can be shortened to seven days if travellers test negative on days five to seven of quarantine. In summary:

• Travellers will need to conduct daily  rapid antigen tests (test kits will be provided at the airport)
• PCR tests will be conducted on days five and 12
• If travellers test negative with a  PCR test on day five and RATs on days six and seven , they can go home
• Leaving the quarantine hotel after seven days must be followed by seven days of self-monitoring at home and PCR testing at a community testing centre on day 12
• A minimum 7-day hotel quarantine booking is required for all travellers entering Hong Kong
• If travellers test negative on days five to seven but choose to stay at the hotel for longer, they can go home if they test negative with the day 12 PCR test
• If travellers test positive at the airport or during quarantine, they will be transferred to a community isolation hotel

Rules for Mainland China and Macau

• Entry eligibility: Regardless of vaccination status, Hong Kong residents and non-residents who have stayed in Macau or China for 14 days consecutively may enter Hong Kong.
• Quarantine length: If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ll need to quarantine for 14 days in your home, hotel (arrivals from the mainland and Macau cannot stay in DQHs), or other accommodation. If you’re fully vaccinated, you need to quarantine for 7 days and then self-monitor for 7 days.
• Testing requirements: If you’re not fully vaccinated, you need to undergo three tests during quarantine, one on the 16th day, and another on the 19th day. If you’re fully vaccinated, you need to undergo two tests during quarantine, and then four more on the 9th, 12, 16th, and 19th days after arrival. All final 19th day tests must be done at a CTC.

Rules for Taiwan

• Entry eligibility: Hong Kong residents (regardless of vaccination status) and fully vaccinated non-residents who have stayed in Taiwan for 14 days consecutively may enter Hong Kong.
• Quarantine length: Vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers must quarantine for 14 days in a DQH and then self-monitor for 7 days.
• Testing requirements: If you’re not fully vaccinated, you need to undergo six tests during quarantine. If you’re fully vaccinated, you need to undergo four tests during quarantine, and then two more on the 16th and 19th days after arrival. The 19th day test must be done at a CTC.

What are the rules for transits/layovers?

If you’re transiting through another country before you arrive in Hong Kong and your layover is longer than two hours, you are considered as having stayed in that country even if you haven’t passed through immigration. This means you must comply with Hong Kong’s entry rules regarding that country, not your country of origin.

What are the quarantine rules for unvaccinated children?

Unvaccinated children under 12 accompanying fully vaccinated travellers may go home to complete their quarantine after their guardians finish their own mandatory hotel quarantine.

What does it mean to ‘self-monitor’?

During the 7-day ‘self-monitoring’ period, you are free to move around but strongly recommended to socially distance yourself as much as you can. The official suggestions are to monitor your overall health at home, avoiding social gatherings as much as possible, staying in a separate room if living with others, wearing a mask if you interact with people in your household, and seeking medical attention if you start to develop symptoms.

What are the rules for foreign domestic helpers?

Foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) from the Philippines and Indonesia, who are fully vaccinated can enter Hong Kong. In fact, all visa holders intending to study, work, or establish a business in the SAR can enter. Helpers must present a recognized vaccination record, valid employment visa, negative Covid test, and quarantine reservation proof.

Other interesting websites and groups that may be helpful to inbound travellers:

• Quarantine for Inbound Travellers – Frequently Asked Questions (coronavirus.gov.hk)
• HK Quarantine Support Group (Facebook)

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Born in Canada, Danielle is deep diving into the things that make Hong Kong a city of intermingling identities, and bridging the information gap as someone trying to navigate the city herself as a cultural inbetweener. Sometimes this means examining culture and local people’s stories, and other times it means drinking all the milk tea and doing walking explorations of peripheral districts.

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Your Updated Guide To Hong Kong Travel Restrictions: No More Hotel Quarantine, Testing Requirements & More

Ready to fly out of the city now that hong kong hotel quarantine has ended here’s what to know about the new “0+3” scheme, testing requirements and more….

After more than two years under the world’s strictest border restrictions, Hong Kong’s mandatory hotel quarantine is finally a thing of the past! In other good news, inbound travellers are no longer required to take a PCR test before departing for Hong Kong, making booking a spontaneous overseas trip even more tempting. Here’s what to know about the new “0+3” scheme, testing requirements and more…

We’ll make sure to keep updating our list with the latest Hong Kong travel rules, so bookmark this page to stay in the know !

Editor’s Note: This article was most recently updated on Monday, 26 September.

Read More:  6 Travel Destinations We Can’t Wait To Visit

Jump To: What Documents Do I Need To Prepare Before My Flight? What Happens When I Arrive At The Airport? Is Hotel Quarantine Still Required? Where Can You Go During Medical Surveillance? Testing Arrangements What Happens If I Test Positive?

Boarding Requirements: What Documents Do I Need To Prepare Before My Flight?

As of 6am on Monday, 26 September, presentation of a negative PCR-based nucleic acid test will no longer be required to board your plane to Hong Kong. You will instead need to present a negative result of a RAT (rapid antigen test) conducted within 24 hours of your scheduled departure . You will be required to declare your test result via the Health & Quarantine Information Declaration.

The Hong Kong boarder is now open to unvaccinated residents , however non-Hong Kong residents aged 12 or above will still need to be fully vaccinated* or have a medical exception certificate before boarding a flight for Hong Kong.

* For the purpose of inbound boarding requirements, non-residents will have to have received two doses of a COVID vaccine at least 14 days before departing for Hong Kong. Those previously infected with COVID-19 will need to have received at least one dose to be considered fully vaccinated.

Head  here for a list of Hong Kong government-approved COVID vaccines.

Head  here for details on what constitutes a Hong Kong government-approved COVID vaccination record.

What Happens When I Arrive At The Airport?

Under the new “test and go” measure, travellers will not have to wait at the airport for their PCR test results . You may take public transport or self-arranged transport to return to your home or hotel.

On landing, arrivals to Hong Kong will be issued with an Amber QR code, which under the Vaccine Pass rules restricts entry to certain premises . Your Vaccine Pass on the LeaveHomeSafe app should automatically turn from amber to blue at 9am on Day 3, provided your PCR test from Day 1 is negative.

An important note, your arrival day is classified as Day 0 . If you land on a Monday, this is your Day 0 and your Vaccine Pass should turn blue Thursday at 9am.

Is Hotel Quarantine Still Required?

No! We’re pleased to say that mandatory hotel quarantine is no longer required for overseas arrivals. Under the new “0+3” scheme, inbound travellers are required to spend three days under home medical surveillance, followed by a four-day self-monitoring period.

Where Can You Go During Medical Surveillance?

During your days of medical surveillance, you can go to get essential groceries, pick up takeaway food and take public transport . You can go to work, but there may be additional restrictions like wearing your mask and taking meal times separately from your colleagues.

You will not be allowed to   dine in at restaurants , go to the gym or venues like  swimming pools  or hair salons , amongst others.

Read More:  Your Guide To Online Grocery Stores In Hong Kong

Testing Arrangements

As per the new “3+0” scheme, inbound travellers will need to take PCR tests at community testing centres, mobile testing stations or other recognised institutions on Day 2, Day 4 and Day 6 , in addition to the PCR test taken at the airport.

During medical surveillance and self-monitoring periods, you will need to take daily RATs until Day 7 of arrival at Hong Kong.

What Happens If I Test Positive?

If you test positive on a RAT or PCR test, your Vaccine Pass will be converted to a Red Code. Your isolation and discharge arrangements will be the same as for local COVID-19 patients.

Editor’s Note:  All information was correct at time of publication.

Main image courtesy of Farshad Rezvanian  via  Unsplash , image 1 courtesy of  Cathay Pacific via Instagram , image 2 courtesy of Photo by visionart.av via Pexels .

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Covid-19: No quarantine-free travel in the short-term, Hong Kong’s new health chief says

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Hong Kong will not axe Covid-19 hotel quarantine for inbound travellers in the short-term, the city’s new health chief has told Oriental Daily , despite halting the flight ban mechanism on Thursday.

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said halting quarantine was “an unreasonable expectation” for the time being: “Some people hope for quarantine-free travel, which is to open-up completely. I am sorry, I believe not a single government would make such a promise [to reopen] at the moment, or set such a target.” Lo said.

The health chief added that the global pandemic situation was still severe and – because the virus will keep evolving into various variants – Hong Kong cannot heave a sigh of relief.

Citing the death count of over 9,000 during Hong Kong’s fifth-wave, Lo said the government cannot “ignore” the coronavirus: “Some say ‘live with the virus,’ but – in fact – the virus is not co-existing with us,” he said.

On Thursday, the city has reported a total of 3,028 Covid-19 infections, of which 172 were imported – the first time for the daily case count exceeded 3,000 since early April.

Since the start of the pandemic two years ago, Hong Kong has registered 1,262,122 infections and 9,407 deaths.

Quarantine hotel shortage

Meanwhile, a lawmaker and representative from the tourism sector both said they were concerned about the short supply of quarantine hotel rooms.

Legislator Doreen Kong appeared on an RTHK programme on Friday saying that citizens had told her rooms are not available until after mid-August.

Currently, all arriving visitors to Hong Kong are required to undergo seven days of isolation at a designated hotel, making Hong Kong’s travel restrictions among the world’s tighest.

The lawmaker said the government could consider opening up the city’s container-built temporary isolation facilities for inbound travellers to meet the heightened demand between July and August as students return for their summer holidays.

“These [facilities] were built for quarantine purposes, weren’t they? I think they are the most suitable and the most plausible option in the short-term,” Kong said.

Kong also urged the government to scrap hotel quarantine entirely when the resurgence of Covid-19 infections calms in the future and replace it with home isolation.

Timothy Chui, the executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, echoed Kong during the same radio show and said it was “difficult to predict” how many flights to Hong Kong will resume.

Hong Kong registered 3,028 new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, of which 172 were imported. The city also reported one new death. Full, trusted coverage on HKFP: https://t.co/w8LTgNxKZy pic.twitter.com/IEq6WqCMy6 — Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) July 7, 2022

“After all, those returning to Hong Kong have to undergo quarantine,” Chui added. But Chui said the tight supply of hotel rooms was “seasonal” and more rooms could be made available if authorities decided to shorten the required quarantine period.

The Co-chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases at the Hong Kong Medical Association Joseph Tsang said during the same programme that the key to prevent the importation of Covid-19 cases was to carry out nucleic acid tests daily instead of hotel quarantine.

“If people do nucleic acid tests daily… I think it is not so most important where they isolate,” he said.

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Peter Lee is a reporter for HKFP. He was previously a freelance journalist at Initium, covering political and court news. He holds a Global Communication bachelor degree from CUHK.

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Hong kong tourism board, travel health advice.

Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all travellers is important to us. Before your journey, follow these recommendations to safeguard your health and enjoy a worry-free visit to Hong Kong.

• Discuss with your family doctor before your trip if you have any medical conditions

Make a record of all the medicines that you are using 

Keep any medications that need to be taken regularly in your hand luggage 

Check with your family doctor or the Travel Health Centers of the Department of Health for the types of vaccines required. These may include vaccination against hepatitis A and B, yellow fever and typhoid fever  

Inform your doctor of any allergies if you need vaccination

For more travel health tips and the latest news on travel-related diseases and environmental health risks, please visit: https://www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/index.html .

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Hong Kong could allow quarantine-free travel by November: Health secretary

Travelers to Hong Kong could be allowed to skip Covid-19 quarantine — but with certain conditions attached — by November, according to an exclusive interview by the South China Morning Post with the city’s secretary for health, Lo Chung-mau.

In the interview, published on Wednesday, Lo said Hong Kong might opt for a different approach to lowering the risk of importation of the virus by inbound travelers by November, which could include PCR screenings and a ban from entering high-risk venues such as bars.

“Is nothing required any more? I think that would be a bit tough. At least PCR testing is needed. But does quarantine have to be confined to a fixed location? … Could it be medical surveillance, plus a yellow code and not appearing in a bar for the first few days? I won’t rule that out. I very much hope to achieve that as well because I like to travel too,” the paper quoted Lo as saying.

Inbound travelers to Hong Kong currently have to quarantine for seven days in hotels, at their own cost, and face six rounds of PCR testing before and after arriving.

The strict rules have triggered an exodus of expatriate workers, especially in the financial sector, raising concerns that the city is losing its global financial hub status following more than two years of closed borders

But it is planning on luring international businesses back with a major conference of global financiers and top bankers on November 1 and 2, organized by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

During the interview, Lo told SCMP that Beijing would not “blindly ask Hong Kong to follow its policies”, which is an example of how the “One Country, Two Systems” principle is applied in the city. He added, “This should delight all our foreign businesses.”

The health chief also revealed predictions of a rebound in the territory’s coronavirus cases and a peak in September with up to 10,000 patients needing hospitalization, but he pledged not to let the situation get out of control.

Lo, who is a liver transplant expert and a former chief executive at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, has implemented a slew of policy reforms since he took the reins of the Health Bureau on July 1.

One of those changes was last week’s suspension of the controversial Covid-19 flight ban policy that had prohibited airlines from flying a particular route for five days if at least five passengers or five percent of the total number of passengers on board (whichever was higher) tested positive upon arrival.

However, inbound travelers now have to undergo an extra PCR test on the third day after their arrival .

The city has been seeing a rise in Covid-19 cases recently, with 2,000 to 3,000 new infections reported daily.

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Entry requirements

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Hong Kong’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Hong Kong set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Office in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Hong Kong.

You may have to pass a temperature check when you arrive.

Passport validity requirements

Your passport must be valid for at least one month after the date you plan to leave Hong Kong.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements.  Renew your passport  if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

Hong Kong is part of the People’s Republic of China, but it is a Special Administrative Region ( SAR ) with its own immigration controls.

You can visit Hong Kong for up to 6 months without a visa. For information on entry requirements see the Hong Kong SAR government website .

To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons) you must get a visa. For further information contact the nearest Chinese mission with visa issuing facilities or the Hong Kong Immigration Department .   

Vaccine requirements

To enter Hong Kong, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a  country listed as a transmission risk .

For more details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Hong Kong guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Hong Kong .  

You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Children aged 3 and over must follow the same rules as adult travellers unless otherwise stated.

Bringing restricted items into Hong Kong

It’s illegal for visitors arriving in Hong Kong International Airport to carry items including:

• objects with sharp points or edges (for example, samurai swords)
• martial arts equipment (for example, knuckledusters)

You could be fined or given a prison sentence. See further information from the Hong Kong Police Force .

Electronic cigarettes

It’s illegal to bring electronic cigarettes or other smoking products, such as heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, into Hong Kong. If you are travelling through Hong Kong and do not pass immigration control, you’re exempt. See further information from the Hong Kong Police Force .

Powdered baby formula

There are restrictions on the amount of powdered baby formula allowed to be taken out of Hong Kong. If you do not follow the rules, you could face a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years.

See more information, including exemptions, from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department .

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Hongkongers travelling to mainland China will have to be screened for Mpox

We can expect more countries to do the same after the global health emergency announcement

Authorities in mainland China have announced on Friday, August 16, that they will begin screening travellers entering the country for symptoms of Mpox, also known as Monkeypox. This decision comes two days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Mpox as a global health emergency.

Chinese customs has also urged travellers arriving from countries where the Mpox virus has occurred, who have been in contact with Mpox carriers, or who are displaying symptoms to declare their circumstances to customs when entering China. Symptoms of Mpox include fever, headaches, muscle aches, and rashes, boils, or sores on the skin. In addition, goods, vehicles, and containers entering the country from areas with Mpox cases will also be screened and should be sanitised. 

At the time of writing, Hong Kong has not released plans to issue similar travel screenings, but preventive measures to the health emergency alert have been activated, which includes enhanced surveillance, strengthening port health measures, and preparing quarantine and hospital measures. As of August 14, a total of 67 cases of Mpox have been recorded in Hong Kong, 13 of which were recorded this year.

At least 13 African countries have reported Mpox outbreaks, with infected cases in the thousands and 517 deaths, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). There is also a new sexually transmissible strain of the virus which has spread rapidly in eastern DRC and its neighbouring countries. Sweden announced the first case outside of the African continent on Thursday, August 15, which is a ‘more dangerous variant’ of Mpox. The WHO has since warned that further cases of this new strain are likely to appear in Europe.

Keep an eye on the Hong Kong government’s Mpox-related releases here.

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Where to go in Hong Kong for something different: Island-hopping, a peaceful monastery, thrifters’ paradise

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There’s really more to Hong Kong than just shopping and eating – especially if you head out to explore its lesser known and less touristy places. 

In partnership with Hong Kong Tourism Board.

From left: A statue of Guanyin at Tsz Shan Monastery and the Cheung sisters who run the cafe and grocery story Island Table on Peng Chau Island. (Photos: CNA/Wallace Woon)

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

Wallace Woon

So you’re back in Hong Kong but you’ve been there and done all that. Don’t fret – there’s more to explore than just the neon traffic streets of Mong Kok or Tsim Sha Shui.

If you’ve had enough of the towering concrete jungle and are looking to explore some quieter, less crowded corners, here are eight places across the territory where you can slow down and explore.

1. PENG CHAU ISLAND

Checking out Hong Kong’s other islands is one way to immediately feel like you’re somewhere else.

A half-hour boat ride from Central Ferry Pier, Peng Chau Island lies to the east of Lantau Island. While several paths weave across the islet’s north and south for those looking to take a short leisurely stroll, it’s also home to some whimsical sights such as an art installation made of recycled items and a toy-laden path to a beachfront.

These Insta-worthy spots aside, the sleepy island might give off “retirement home” vibes, especially in contrast to Hong Kong’s busier places. But that’s exactly the charm of the place and the reason millennial sisters Mandy, Cony and Apple Cheung decided to set up their cafe and grocery store Island Table in August 2020, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We used to run a travel agency featuring private tours but after COVID-19 hit, the borders shut so we had no customers anymore and decided to open the cafe,” said Mandy.

“There wasn’t any cafe on my island at that time so I want to provide a place for people to chill and relax.”

One of her happiest takeaways, she said, was introducing the many elderly residents on the island to “young people coffee culture” and having the aunties and uncles become regulars.

2. LANTAU ISLAND

It’s undeniable that the island’s famed themed park featuring beloved animated characters (read: Disneyland) is what makes many a visitor make a beeline here from the airport. But if that’s not your thing, Hideout Cafe is a small world away from the crowd – without the repetitive iconic melody ringing in your ears.

Tucked behind a knoll on the other side of Mui Wo’s Silver Mine Bay, lush greenery lines the path leading to the cafe. A 15-minute walk from the ferry terminal will take visitors past a beach facing the bay.

The premises features a herb garden, which supplies the kitchen and bar with ingredients for its dishes and drinks. The main draw for visitors is the art jamming activity where budding painters are encouraged to take inspiration from the nature surrounding the cafe.

3. CHEUNG CHAU ISLAND

Row upon row of fishing boats flank the ferry routes arriving at the Cheung Chau Ferry Pier. It comes as no surprise then that seafood restaurants line the entirety of the waterfront.

Take a sweaty 30-minute hike up some stairs, wind through the front and back of residents’ homes, and follow a trail – you’ll eventually arrive at a viewpoint that offers sweeping views of Hong Kong Island and the New Territories.

And if you’re a fan of Hong Kong movies, the Cheung Chau Cinema museum offers a glimpse into the city’s filmmaking heritage. Vintage posters line the walls and visitors can role play in period dramas or a courtroom scene on mock movie sets.

4. ABERDEEN HARBOUR

Take a slow cruise down memory lane as you sail past fishing junks and huge hulking vessels that look like they’ve not been used in years. A visit to Aberdeen Harbour feels like going back to a time when Hong Kong’s fishing industry was in its heyday.

Spot the empty Tai Pak Floating Restaurant with its palace-like roof, ornate decor and intricate carvings. Fun fact: Its sister restaurant, Jumbo Floating Restaurant, sank in 2022 while being towed in the South China Sea.

At the Aberdeen Houseboat floating museum, visitors can learn what life was like aboard one of the old school fishing vessels while they duck and squeeze through the small confines. Looking at vessels being repaired in zinc roofed drydocks, with the towering new condominiums in the backdrop, you’re instantly reminded of how much Hong Kong has changed over the years.

5. TSZ SHAN MONASTERY

If it's mindfulness you seek, then it's mindfulness you shall receive at this peaceful monastery – after you’ve admired the place itself.

Located 30km northeast of Hong Kong's New Territories, the buildings in the Tsz Shan monastery complex are an impressive feat of architecture, seeing as these were built with traditional construction methods.

Even more impressive – and frankly hard-to-miss – is the 76m tall Guanyin statue which towers over the complex and overlooks the bay. The statue, made of bronze, is painted with a white fluorocarbon paint that supposedly repels dirt, which makes it easy to maintain and protect the statue.

Instead of offering incense, visitors can give a water offering at a pool near the foot of the statue. If you want to cool down – especially when during the summer months – duck inside the air-conditioned museum at the statue’s base. It houses a selection of Buddhist art, so you can admire artefacts, some of which are nearly a millennia old, up-close.

6. SHA TAU KOK

Located between the urban centres of Hong Kong and Shenzhen in mainland China is this unique border town. Because of its unique position, residents pass through one of the many crossing points – manned by policemen – multiple times a day.

And for foreign visitors, entering Sha Tau Kok feels like an adventure as you first have to get past multiple police checkpoints before finally stopping for a passport check and getting all the appropriate permits ready for inspection. This, despite the fact that you never technically cross a border.

Once there, it’s a pretty quaint place to explore – the town itself features colourfully painted low-rise public housing buildings and other historical installations that harken back to the time it was under British rule.

7. LAI CHI WO

A 20-minute boat ride from Sha Tau Kok is this centuries-old Hakka village worth exploring. Back in the 17th century, migrants fleeing south came here to settle but by the 1960s, it was practically empty as the residents moved elsewhere for a better life.

Indeed, there’s a cold and lonely vibe as you weave through the tight alleys and walk past stone brick homes.

But things have been slowly changing, thanks to a revitalisation programme aimed at bringing in tourists as well as new residents to tend to abandoned farms. That was the case for a Hong Kong city dweller like Keith Mak, who has been living in Lai Chi Wo since 2013.

“This village is a paradise for me,” said the 71-year-old, who used to work in the insurance industry. These days, he’s busy with his 20,000 sq ft plot of land, growing produce such as sand ginger, turmeric and curry trees, which he then uses to make the popsicles and drinks he sells to tourists.

For those looking to spend more time in nature, there are also hiking trails that connect Lai Chi Wo to neighbouring villages. And yes, if you’re hungry, there are stalls that sell authentic Hakka yong tau foo.

8. SHAM SHUI PO

Once you’ve had your fill of the other side of Hong Kong, perhaps you’re thinking it’s time to go shopping. But even that popular Singaporean pastime can be enjoyed with a twist – right in the heart of the city is Sham Shui Po. And instead of designer store fronts, this is a thrifter’s haven and it has been that way even before thrifting became cool.

Here, street stalls line the road, selling every conceivable accessory and gadget at competitive prices. Locals go about their lives under the visual cacophony of LED signs and banners, a hallmark of the working-class neighbourhood – which was historically, also the first port of call for migrant labourers coming from the mainland.

Cheap eats abound as well – there’s dim sum and daofufa (tau huay) for those hoping to grab some local bites. And there’s nothing more local than the snake soup sold at Shia Wong Hip, which has been around for nearly six decades. Think fish maw soup but with unagi-like slivers of meat. It’s popular during winter and something to consider for those who need to check something exotic off their bucket list.

CNA Lifestyle was in Hong Kong at the invitation of Hong Kong Tourism Board. 

Check out HKTB’s ongoing  Summer Chill Hong Kong  campaign for more details or its  curated list of “hidden gems”  for your next trip.

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• Open access
• Published: 19 August 2024

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on specialty training in obstetrics and gynaecology in Hong Kong: is there a concern about the future prospect?

• Janice Tsz Ching Leung 1 ,
• Yan Yu Li 1 ,
• Choi Wah Kong 1 &
• William Wing Kee To 1  

BMC Medical Education volume  24 , Article number:  893 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

42 Accesses

Metrics details

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic in the past few years led to major adjustments in the provision of healthcare. This study aimed to investigate trainees’ perception of impact of the pandemic on specialty training in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G) in Hong Kong.

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was performed on all the O&G trainees and the young fellows of the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (HKCOG). The questionnaires included 5 parts: demographic data, impact on clinical activities, redeployment, educational activities and career progression.

A total of 104 questionnaires (92.9%) were received for final analysis. The majority of the participants had reductions in elective and emergency operations, as well as exposure to in-patient admissions and out-patient clinics in both obstetrics and gynaecology. The reduction was most significant in elective gynaecology operations. One-third (34.6%) of the participants had been redeployed to other departments, and educational activities were reduced during the pandemic. Around 58% of the trainees were concerned with the reduction in clinical exposure, and 78% worried they would not be able to log sufficient number of surgical procedures. Basic trainees were significantly more worried than higher trainees. Around half of the trainees had doubts or regrets about choosing to undergo O&G specialty training.

The O&G trainees in Hong Kong perceived that the COVID-19 pandemic had significant negative impacts on their training. Many trainees were worried they would not be able to attain the required level of competence when they complete their specialist training.

Peer Review reports

New knowledge added by this study

O&G trainees in Hong Kong perceived that COVID-19 pandemic had negative impacts on their training due to the reduction in elective and emergency operations, as well as clinical exposure to in-patient admissions and out-patient clinics.

Many O&G trainees were worried they will not be a competent specialist in future and had doubt or regrets in their career choice.

Implications for clinical practice or policy

Trainers in O&G departments should attempt to identify the individual gaps in clinical exposure and insufficiencies in procedure logging for each trainee, and then adopt targeted training plans tailored for each of them to make up for the deficient areas before they approach their exit assessment.

The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists should explore means to and improve the training programme for O&G trainees in order to prevent high attrition rates for existing trainees, and to boast the currently low preference for O&G among medical graduates seeking specialty training.

The global pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a significant burden and a major challenge to the health care system all around the world. The pandemic has led to overwhelming surges of hospitalizations, leading to redeployment of trainees in many specialties to care for COVID-19 patients and significant reduction in elective surgeries [ 1 ]. Obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G), being one of the surgical stream, was inevitably affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A study in the United States found the surgical volume in two large O&G organizations had dropped to 48–67% in 2020 compared with 2019 [ 2 ]. A study on 103 O&G trainees in Turkey found 98% of them reported decrease in the number of surgeries, so that 63% of the trainees thought that their surgical skills were hindered by the reduced number of surgeries and 67% reported insufficient outpatient clinic experience to meet education targets [ 3 ]. Up to 60% of the O&G trainees in European countries were worried on their training [ 4 ] and 84% of the trainees in Italy had anxiety about their professional future and 59% of them had the perception that their training was irreversibly compromised [ 5 ]. A study in United Kingdom performed a survey on O&G trainees after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic with restoration of normal clinical activities and they still found the pandemic had negative impact on their overall training [ 6 ].

The impact of COVID-19 on O&G training in Hong Kong has not been studied. The resident training programme in obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) in Hong Kong is organized by the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (HKCOG), and trainees have to undergo 4 years of basic training and 2 years of higher training in various public training hospitals. They are required to pass an exit assessment at the end of the six years before they can be recognized as specialists and as fellows of the College.

The first confirmed COVID-19 case in Hong Kong was on 23 January 2020. Waves of the pandemic have hit Hong Kong within the past 4 years with the fifth wave in January 2022 resulting in a total of 1,049,959 reported confirmed cases and 5,906 death cases from 6 January to 21 March in 2022 [ 7 ]. After battling with the virus for more than three years, WHO finally announced that COVID-19 is no longer defined as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May 2023 [ 8 ]. The Hong Kong government has lifted the quarantine requirements for travelers since September 2022 and dropped the mask mandate in March 2023. However, compared to other western and Asian countries, Hong Kong had adopted mandatory quarantine for COVID-19 infected patients and for persons having close contacts as well as for international travellers for almost three years. The impact of the pandemic on resident training in our hospitals could therefore be more profound than in other countries.

The objective of this study is to investigate the perception of the O&G trainees in Hong Kong on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their specialty training and their self-confidence on their competence as future O&G specialists.

This was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted from 1 to 31 August 2023 in all the eight O&G training units in Hong Kong (Kwong Wah Hospital, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital and United Christian Hospital). The questionnaires were distributed to all trainees and young fellows obtaining their fellowship in 2021 or after and who were still working in the Hospital Authority during the time of the questionnaire study. The questionnaires were anonymous, self-administered, and was in English format (Appendix 1). The questionnaires consisted of 43 questions with five domains, including (1) demographic data of the participants (2) impact of COVID-19 on their clinical activities (3) impact of redeployment on training (4) impact of COVID-19 on educational activities (5) impact on career progression. A written consent with a printed questionnaire was distributed to all eligible participants. They were asked to complete the questionnaire by their own estimation based on their loggings and return the completed questionnaires as well as the signed consent to the principal investigator by fax or internal mail.

SPSS software (Windows version 20.0; IBM Corp, Armonk [NY], United States) was used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive categorical data were expressed as numbers and percentages; they were compared and analyzed by the Chi squared test or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate. A P -value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

A total of 112 questionnaires were sent out to all the eligible participants and a total of 106 completed questionnaires were returned. Two questionnaires were excluded due to missing answers in key items. The overall rate of participation for analysis was 92.9% (104/112), of which 31.7% were basic trainees who had less than 4 years of recognized O&G training, 34.6% were higher trainees who had at least 4 years of recognized training and 33.7% of them were young fellows who had obtained their fellowship in 2021 or after. The majority of them (80.8%) were female. (Table  1 )

The trainees were asked to compare their changes in clinical activities during the COVID pandemic with pre-COVID period or the changes with previous trainees in pre-COVID periods. The majority of the participants reported significant decreases (over 25%) in clinical activities during COVID-19 pandemic as compared to pre-COVID levels. For gynaecology activities, 92.3% and 78.8% of participants had reduction in elective and emergency operations respectively, 86.5% and 67.3% of participants had reduction in exposure to in-patient admissions and exposure to out-patient clinics respectively. For obstetrics activities, 87.5% and 76.9% of participants had reduction in elective and emergency caesarean sections respectively, 88.5% had reduction in instrumental deliveries, 90.4% and 88.5% had reduction in exposure to in-patient admissions and exposure to out-patient clinics respectively. (Table  2 )

Over one-third (36/104, 34.6%) of the participants had been redeployed to other departments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them, the most common department or facility for redeployment was Department of Medicine (16/36, 44.4%), followed by Asia Expo (9/36, 25%) and Penny Bay (8/36, 22.2%), and 27.8% (10/36) of them had been redeployed for less than 4 weeks, 52.7% (19/36) had been redeployed for 4–7 weeks, 5.6% (2/36) had been redeployed for 8–11 weeks and 13.9% (5/36) had been redeployed for 12 weeks. Around 44.4% (16/36) in the redeployed group regarded the redeployment experience as having a positive impact on their professional training, increasing their knowledge and experience in managing medical diseases, while 25% (9/36) thought redeployment had negative impact on their training.

Two-thirds of the participants (65.4%) reported significant reductions (60.6%) or even total cancellations (4.8%) of teaching sessions/ grand rounds during the pandemic. Attendance of seminars or lectures was reduced in around half of them (49.0%), while paradoxically 27.9% of participants reported an increase in attendance, which was mostly attributable to availability of online lectures and webinars. The majority of participants (71.2%) would prefer online or virtual seminars rather than physical ones even after COVID-19 pandemic. While 76.9% of participants reflected the pandemic had no effect on their research training, 59.6% found the pandemic had no impact on their personal study time and 31.7% of them even found more time to study. (Table  3 )

With regard to the trainees’ views on their specialty training programme and their career prospects, around one third (34.8%) of the trainees had at least some degree of dissatisfaction in their current training schedule, with 71.0% worrying they would not have enough number of procedures when applying for fellowship examination and 58.0% worrying they would not have enough clinical exposure in their training. Basic trainees were more significantly concerned in these aspects than higher trainees ( p  = 0.003 and p  = 0.017 respectively). The majority of the trainees (76.8%) had worries about not being able to be a competent specialist after completion of their training, and 44.9% of them had some degree of doubts or regrets about their choice of undergoing training to be an O&G specialist. Almost half (47.8%) of them had recalled transient or even persistent thoughts of quitting their training. (Table  4 ) Among those with doubts or regrets on choosing this specialty, major concerns included not being able to be a competent specialist even after six years of training, and promotion aspects in the specialty being not as promising as before. Around two-third of them (45/69, 65.2%) felt that their department had already tried to maximize the number of procedures for them to perform by swapping duties on ad hoc basis, or arranging rotations to other O&G units for them. More than half of them (53.6%, 37/69) hoped that the HKCOG can adopt more flexible assessment criteria at the time of their exit assessment, such as accepting the use of OSAT as proof of competence for certain procedures if they were unable to log the minimum number to satisfy training requirements.

Our data showed there was a significant overall reduction of clinical exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was compatible with the trends of diversion of clinical resources away from O&G during the pandemic worldwide. Our data showed that the degree of reduction in clinical exposure was apparently more profound in gynaecology compared with obstetrics. Almost half of our trainees (43.3%) perceived the number of elective gynecological operation sessions assigned were reduced by more than 50% while half of them (48.1%) perceived that elective caesarean sections assigned was not reduced or reduced by less than 25%. This was compatible with the findings from other countries. A study on the impact of COVID-19 in United Kingdom on 87 O&G trainees found that almost all the trainees (99%) felt their surgical training on benign gynaecological conditions had been negatively affected compared while only 43% felt their obstetric training was negatively affected [ 9 ]. Another study conducted on 476 Italian O&G trainees found benign gynaecology procedures, infertility treatments and urogynaecology related activities underwent a significant reduction with a reported total suspension from 54 to 60%, while labour/ delivery training and prenatal diagnosis was less reduced with a total suspension of training from 8.2 to 23.1% only [ 5 ]. This was logical as urgent and non-deferrable surgeries such as labour/delivery and oncologic procedures had to be maintained despite elective gynaecological surgeries for benign conditions being postponed. However, reduction on obstetric services in public hospitals in Hong Kong was still remarkable as a significant proportion of women opted to deliver in private hospitals instead of public hospitals during the pandemic. The practical reasons for this trend included the strict prohibition of all visiting in public hospitals and the cancellation of husband accompanying labour programme during the peaks of the pandemic. In addition, the risk of contracting COVID-19 was believed to be lower when delivering in private rather than public hospitals, as private hospitals would not admit confirmed COIVID patients [ 10 , 11 ].

The redeployment rate for O&G trainees to other units such as medical department during COVID-19 pandemic varied among different countries. A survey on 110 O&G trainees from 25 different European countries found the redeployment rate was 15%, compared with 34.6% in our study to as high as 65.3% in Turkey [ 3 , 4 ]. The trainees in European countries valued their experience in redeployment and thought they have increased their knowledge and skills in medicine with a positive impact on their training, which was similar to the views of our redeployed trainees [ 4 ]. As our specialty training focused on O&G knowledge and skills, and elective year training in other specialties in no longer mandatory in our training programme, our trainees seldom had the experience in managing medical diseases or work in other specialties during their training. Our data showed that 44.4% of our redeployed trainees were seconded to the Department of Medicine, which offered them a variety of valuable clinical experiences apart from merely looking after COVID patients to broaden their medical knowledge. Furthermore, the majority of our trainees (86.1%) were redeployed less than 12 weeks, so that the chances of jeopardizing their O&G exposure and training due to the redeployment should be low.

Similar to our findings, around half of the trainees (51.2%) in the Italian study reported a reduction in teaching activities during the COVID-19 pandemic with decreases in teaching/ grand rounds, attendance of seminars and conferences [ 5 ]. A virtual continuing medical education program had been constructed for O&G trainees in Singapore in 2020 to replace the traditional face to face continuous medical education program comprising of grand rounds, clinical governance, journal clubs and research presentations and was highly evaluated by their trainees. The majority of their trainees felt increased comfort in the virtual environments, less public speaking fear, less senior intimidation and a dismantlement of the traditional classroom physical space [ 12 , 13 ]. Indeed, virtual platforms for lectures and conferences had been increasingly used worldwide as well as in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual platform is convenient, and apart from lifting geographic constraints and saving travel time, also allows recording and playback to retain and review information. The majority of our trainees expressed that they preferred online or virtual seminars rather than physical ones even after COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, more evidence is needed to show whether these online or virtual seminars are better, complementary or worse than traditional face-to-face lectures, and in particular, whether these virtual seminars will decrease trainees’ communications skills among professionals. However, maintaining a virtual option after the COVID pandemic may still be beneficial to trainees who find difficulties in attend the seminars in-person. In response to the reduction in elective gynaecology surgery, various authors from different countries had advocated simulation training in O&G during COVID-19 pandemic such as using laparoscopic box trainers and surgical simulators to train tissue handling and laparoscopic suturing [ 3 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]. Use of archived surgical videos and live tele-mentoring in operation theaters by experienced seniors had also been advocated so that more trainees can observe the operations simultaneously to compensate for their gap in surgical education and exposure [ 3 , 12 , 13 ]. Although hands-on training cannot be replaced by simulation and e-learning, increased staff confidence and comfort, enhanced technical and clinical performance were confirmed in a systemic review on training in health workers during COVID-19 pandemic [ 14 ]. In fact, individual study time was found to be increased in 68.1% of the Italian trainees [ 5 ] as well as 31.7% of our trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trainees should make best use of their additional study time to visit such virtual education platforms for learning to compensate for their loss in clinical exposure.

Apart from reduction of elective gynaecology operations, our trainees were also worried about reduction in obstetric procedures and exposure as Hong Kong is currently facing a historically low number of obstetric deliveries during the pandemic. The number of live births in Hong Kong dropped from 53,168 in year 2019 to 32,950 in year 2022. Even after lifting the quarantine requirements for travellers in year 2022 and restoration of most of the normal social activities, the number of live births only showed a slight rise to 33,288 in year 2023 [ 15 , 16 ] without obvious signs of recovery in the number of deliveries. Basic trainees were significantly more worried than higher trainees on not having enough number of obstetric procedures, such as instrumental deliveries, in our survey. The higher trainees may already have acquired adequate or acceptable numbers before the pandemic, while basic trainees had only very limited number of loggings and exposure in the few years of the pandemic, and with no signs of a significant rebound in the number of deliveries in the coming few years as they enter higher training, the chances they will acquire sufficient numbers in these procedures to satisfy training requirements appear guarded.

It is disturbing to note that around half of our trainees had doubts or regrets on choosing O&G for specialty training. The majority of the trainees had worries of not being able to be a competent specialist after completion of training. According to a cross-sectional questionnaire survey on medical gradates in 2016, the career interest in O&G among medical graduates were low and the key influential factors in their career choice included working style and career prospects [ 17 ]. In our survey, many of our trainees attributed their doubts in specialty training to the frequent call schedules and high working hours leading to an undermined work-life balance, and concerns over their competence and career prospects were highlighted. The HKCOG should find solutions on improving the working schedules for O&G trainees in order to prevent high drop-out rate for our existing trainees, to boast the currently low preference for O&G among medical graduates seeking specialty training. Trainers in O&G departments should attempt to identify the gaps in clinical exposure and insufficiencies in procedure logging for each individual trainee, and then adopt training plans tailored for each of them to make up for the deficient areas before they approach their exit assessment. Such targeted remedial training programmes should hopefully make up for any negative impacts posed by the pandemic so that all trainees will be able to achieve the desired comprehensive level of competence when they attain specialist status.

The main strength of our study was that our findings should truly reflect the opinions of the majority of O&G trainees and young fellows in Hong Kong. We achieved a high comprehensive response rate 92.9% of all trainees, whereas other similar studies only reported selected samples with response rates of 51 to 69% [ 5 , 6 , 9 ]. The limitation of this study was that the questionnaires were gathered when the peak of COVID pandemic had passed and there was already gradual restoration of many routine clinical activities, so that the reported impact on training might already be attenuated as compared to the peak of the pandemic. Another limitation of this study was the decrease in number of operative procedures perceived by the trainees were based on their estimation from their logbook recordings but without requiring them to retrieve records or precisely count the number of cases for various categories. Nonetheless, we believe the estimations reported should closely reflect the actual quantitative workload of our trainees. The data should be valuable to uphold the standards of our training system and to ensure the competences of our future specialists.

The O&G trainees in Hong Kong perceived that the COVID-19 pandemic had significant negative impacts on their training. There was an overall reduction in clinical activities and exposure for O&G trainees particularly for elective gynecology operations. O&G trainees were concerned with insufficient clinical exposure and number of procedures for logging to satisfy their training requirements. A significant proportion of them were in doubt about their career choice. Improvements in working schedules and training and assessment systems should be adopted by trainers in different O&G departments and the HKCOG in order to retain current trainees and to attract future medical graduates.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants of this survey study and the COVID-19 Training Impact Study Group consisting of Dr Chan Yuen Yee Yannie, Dr Hung Man Wai Catherine, Dr Luk Hiu Mei, Dr Tang Yuen Chung, Dr Tse Kai Yeung, Dr Wong Kwun Long Natalie, Dr Yuen Tony from Princess Margaret Hospital, Kwong Wah Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, Tuen Mun Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital respectively, for their coordination in this research project in each O&G unit.

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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LJTC has made substantial contributions to the conception and the design of the work, the acquisition and analysis of the data as well as the drafting of the manuscript. LYY acquired, analyzed and interpreted the data. KCW contributed to the conception and the design of the work, analyzed the data and drafted the manuscript. TWWK analyzed the data and provided critical revision for important intellectual content. All authors had full access to the data, contributed to the study, approved the final version of manuscript for publication, and take responsibility for its accuracy and integrity.

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Leung, J.T.C., Li, Y.Y., Kong, C.W. et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on specialty training in obstetrics and gynaecology in Hong Kong: is there a concern about the future prospect?. BMC Med Educ 24 , 893 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05727-1

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Received : 12 March 2024

Accepted : 01 July 2024

Published : 19 August 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05727-1

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