Govt moves helpers to new quarantine hotels

Some of the foreign domestic helpers currently undergoing quarantine at two designated hotels will be moved elsewhere to continue their isolation, the government announced on Thursday.

Labour officials explained that this is because Courtyard by Marriott in Sha Tin and the Rambler Garden Hotel in Tsing Yi will be “redeployed for other anti-epidemic use”, without elaborating further.

But they said some helpers can stay to complete their quarantine so long as the end date of their quarantine order falls on or before March 11 for the Marriott hotel and March 19 for Rambler Garden.

Those who are now staying in the two hotels or are going to check in before March 18 will be transferred to Four Points by Sheraton in Tung Chung and Empire Hotel in Causeway Bay.

Courtyard by Marriott and Rambler Garden will refund the money paid for remaining days of quarantine and Sheraton and Empire will ask employers for the rest of the room fees.

Employers or employment agencies who have booked a room for their incoming helpers after March 19 will need to find other places, officials added.