It added that transport would be arranged to take them to a designated location for dismissal.

Some in the group were eager to leave, as they had already been quarantined on the ship since February 4, before flying home on February 20 on the first government-chartered flight.

David Yeung Kun-wah, 70, who was among those quarantined, said they were given options to leave either at around midnight on Wednesday or 10am on Thursday.

Yeung said he and his wife decided to leave after midnight. “We booked a car to pick us up at around 1am,” he said, adding that the government also offered to take people via coach to the nearby Tai Wai MTR station if they preferred.

At 12.30am on Thursday, some passengers were still waiting to come down from their block, as only one lift was in operation. Dozens later left the estate by private vehicles.

Two shuttle buses carried fewer than 20 passengers to the railway station.

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Shortly after 10am on Thursday, three coaches took about a dozen more out of the quarantine zone in Fo Tan.

A woman, with the surname Wong, said the first thing she wanted to do was go for a run.

“I want to feel that freedom,” said the retiree, who has not set foot outside her room, except for the journey to Hong Kong, since she was quarantined almost a month ago in Japan.

She said she had to check her temperature twice a day and had received two coronavirus tests during her time at the Chun Yeung Estate, while staff would leave food outside her door for her to collect. She did not leave at midnight because she thought it was inconvenient.

She said the “unforgettable” experience would not deter her from taking a cruise in the future.

“I really love going on cruises,” she said.

Earlier on Wednesday night, another cruise passenger, also surnamed Yeung, was waiting eagerly to leave the estate with her husband. “I can’t wait to go home,” the woman said. “I haven’t been home in around 40 days.”

The couple spent 28 days in total under quarantine on the cruise in Japan and at the Fo Tan facility.

Yeung added that she hoped they would not encounter the second batch of Hongkongers evacuated from outbreak epicentre Hubei province in mainland China. That group arrived in Hong Kong at around 10pm.

Hours before the release of the Diamond Princess passengers from quarantine, Chun Yeung Estate began receiving 533 Hongkongers returning on government-chartered flights from Hubei.

The first flight arrived in Hong Kong with 109 people in the evening, followed by a second flight later at night.

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Between midnight and 1am, six coaches with passengers believed to be from the second flight entered the estate for quarantine, accompanied by police vans and motorcycles.

Passengers wore masks while personnel in full protective gear sat in the front seats of the coaches.

Several private vehicles and a minibus also entered the estate after an inspection by officers.

“Family members and friends who registered earlier to pick up passengers can enter the estate,” a policeman said, adding that others with authorised access included medical staff working there and a minibus for commuting residents.

The Diamond Princess cruise liner, with about 3,700 people aboard including about 370 from the city, left Hong Kong on January 25 before it was quarantined off Yokohama in Japan on February 4, after several infections were discovered.

The government had arranged three chartered flights from February 20 to 23 to bring home 193 Hongkongers stuck on the cruise ship. Some others arranged their own transport, while those already infected or considered close contacts of the infected had to stay in Japan for an extended period of quarantine.

The total number of cruise passengers quarantined at Chun Yeung Estate is 225. Nine were confirmed to be infected upon their return, with another probable case, according to authorities.

Most of the remaining passengers will complete their compulsory quarantine between March 5 and 7.