Nicole Kidman Allowed to Skip Hong Kong's Strict Quarantine, Reports Say

(Bloomberg) -- Hollywood actor Nicole Kidman secured an exemption from strict Hong Kong quarantine rules that have faced criticism from the financial hub’s business community, local media reported.

Kidman, 54, flew into the city in a private jet that took off from Sydney on Aug. 12, according to the Standard newspaper. The “Bombshell” star arrived to shoot the “Expats” television series for Amazon.com Inc. and was spotted with her bodyguards in many places, including at a boutique shop, the report said. 

A spokesman for the government didn’t immediately answer calls seeking comment.

Hong Kong mandates vaccinated residents and non-residents coming from “high-risk” countries to spend as long as 21 days in hotel quarantine upon arrival, besides a host of other requirements. For those from “low-risk” places such as Australia, that is cut short to seven days plus tests followed by self-monitoring. HSBC Holdings Plc Chairman Mark Tucker recently spent three weeks in isolation.

Business groups have expressed concern after the government tightened the curbs earlier this week, moving 15 nations to “high-risk” category effective Aug. 20. Australia has now been labeled as “medium-risk.” The business community has struggled for the past 18 months with an economy that’s been starved of big-spending tourists and business travelers. Hong Kong had about 99.9% fewer visitor arrivals in the first half this year than in the same period in 2019.

Kidman, who’s also an executive producer of “Expats,” will be staying at a mansion in an upscale neighborhood near Victoria Peak until October, paying a monthly rent of about HK$650,000 ($83,500), other local media reported.

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