Hong Kong Health Code Coming Soon

HK will soon launch its health code app for crossing the border

Hong Kong businesses are pushing the government to release the new Covid-19 tracing app so that users can go across the border to China as early as the end of December. However, potential users are concerned about what kind of information the authorities will retain.

Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu revealed on Thursday that for residents to qualify for the scheme, they would have to use the Hong Kong Health Code app, which would log a user's name, infection status, and after they cross the border, their whereabouts on the mainland.

Lee says the app to only track movement in China

The Innovation and Technology Bureau will reveal more details next week about the app, which is in the final stages of testing.

It has been reported that quarantine-free travel will be limited to Guangdong province initially.

While the new app will not log users' whereabouts in Hong Kong, their movements will be tracked after they cross the border and the data links up with the mainland's health code app.

The new local software will also be tied to the government's existing risk-exposure notification Leave Home Safe app, which has raised privacy concerns among local residents despite repeated assurances from the authorities that it does not collect personal data or travel history.

While some Hong Kong residents are anxious to go to the mainland for business, they have reservations about the upcoming app.

Initially HK people can only go to Guangdong

"It will be reasonable if details related to Covid-19 are required, for example, which hotel I stay in China, which restaurant I go to and where I have been to," said Hilton Law Yiu-chung, CEO of a software developer.

"I hope they will not require information on my personal contacts, like my folks and friends."

Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun said residents should not worry too much about the new app.

"Users can be rest assured that the Hong Kong Health Code app won't track down their whereabouts in Hong Kong because they will transit to the mainland's health code app upon arrival at the other side of the border."

But would the health code app immediately switch back to the Hong Kong one as soon as one returns to the city, or would it continue tracking people?

Tien says app may launch in early February

Unless someone used a burner phone it's hard to be reassured that it's so simple.

Tien added that he expected the scheme to launch after Chinese New Year at the start of February, given the lack of official consensus on several issues.

Or both sides could continue discussing well until after the Olympics is over before anything starts...