Hong Kong restaurants report smooth launch of latest vaccine pass stage, but some diners turned away for failing to meet requirement
- Restaurant employees say they told regular customers to update vaccine pass status in advance to avoid issues
- Some elderly diners have been turned away for failing to meet third phase of vaccine pass arrangement which took effect on Tuesday
Hong Kong restaurants have reported a smooth launch of the latest stage of the vaccine pass scheme, even though some patrons were turned away for failing to meet the new requirement.
Employees at eateries said they had reminded regular diners in advance about the arrangement to avoid issues, but some elderly residents expressed frustrations with updating the government’s risk-exposure “Leave Home Safe” app.
Under the third phase of the city’s vaccine pass scheme which took effect on Tuesday, residents aged 12 and above must have received three shots or got their second jab within six months to enter most premises.
The new measure affects 23 types of places, including restaurants, bars, pubs, cinemas, bathhouses, gyms and beauty parlours. But nearly half of the city’s residents have not received the third dose.
A diner who gave her name as Fong said she encountered issues when trying to enter a Chinese restaurant in Causeway Bay. The 66-year-old insisted that she had received the third dose two months ago, but did not know she had to upload her latest vaccine pass certificate to the app.