PH seeking Hong Kong’s recognition of BOQ-issued vaccine certificates

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. (Photo from the DFA)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is working on getting Hong Kong authorities to recognize the vaccination certificate issued by the Philippine Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

“Our Consulate is working to get the PH BOQ issued vaccination certification to be recognized by the HK authorities as the official and verifiable certification to allow the entry of Filipino travelers, but of course still subject to all other relevant quarantine requirements for all travelers,” a source at the Department of Foreign Affairs told INQUIRER.net.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Philippines’ vaccination cards were “not accepted in Hong Kong because they are not connected to a single source.”
“Poor OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] going to their jobs in Hong Kong even if jabbed,” Locsin said in a tweet.

Our vaccination cards are not accepted in Hong Kong because they are not connected to a single source. Poor OFWs going to their jobs in Hong Kong even if jabbed.

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 10, 2021

Last week, Philippine Labor Attaché Melchor Dizon said the Hong Kong government would lift its travel ban on the Philippines Monday, Aug. 9, making way for over 3,000 stranded OFWs to travel there.

“We encourage our fellow Filipinos here in Hong Kong and those stranded in the Philippines to have themselves vaccinated against COVID-19. Otherwise, you will not be allowed entry into Hong Kong. This is also for your protection,” Dizon said during an online briefing Friday.

He also noted that of about 220,000 OFWs in Hong Kong, only less than 50 percent availed of the vaccine of their choice even as the government is providing an incentive package for those who will get vaccinated.

According to Dizon, Hong Kong authorities require a 14-day quarantine even for fully vaccinated workers upon arrival in the territory.

/ATM