Nicole Kidman sparks criticism in Hong Kong after local government exempts the actress from quarantine rules so she can film her new Amazon series Expats
- The Australian actress flew from Sydney to Hong Kong via private jet last Thursday ahead of filming- and is staying at a rented mansion in the city's Peak district
- However, she stirred controversy two days later after photos surfaced of Kidman shopping at a designer boutique in the city's Central district with her bodyguard
- Hong Kong mandates that international travellers must complete at least seven days of quarantine upon arrival, followed by 'self-monitoring'
- However, The Hong Kong government has confirmed it waived these tough quarantine rules for Kidman
- Nicole was required to be vaccinated, stay in a 'designated residence', get tested for the virus regularly and provide 'work-related itineraries'
- The news of Kidman's exemption has sparked backlash on social media, with several Hong Kong locals complaining about the apparent 'double standard'
- Nicole's departure from Sydney coincided with growing fears over the new draconian lockdown rules that are set to be implemented in New South Wales
Nicole Kidman has sparked backlash in Hong Kong after the local government gave her an exemption from mandatory quarantine rules to film her new TV show.
The Australian actress, 54, flew from Sydney to Hong Kong via private jet last Thursday ahead of filming her new Amazon Prime series Expats, and is staying at a rented mansion in the city's Peak district.
However, she stirred controversy two days later after photos surfaced of Kidman shopping at a designer boutique in the city's Central district with her bodyguard.
Exempt: Nicole Kidman, 54, (pictured) has sparked criticism in Hong Kong after she received an exemption from following mandatory quarantine rules from the local government to film her new Amazon show Expats. Pictured with director Lulu Wang
Hong Kong mandates that international travellers must complete at least seven days of quarantine upon arrival, followed by 'self-monitoring'.
However, The Hong Kong government has confirmed it waived these tough quarantine rules for Kidman.
In a statement to HK01, Hong Kong's Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said that Kidman received an exemption from mandatory quarantine 'to carry out designated professional work'.
Excused: In a statement to HK01, Hong Kong's Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said that Kidman received an exemption from quarantine 'to carry out designated professional work' (pictured 2020)
As part of her exemption, Nicole was required to be vaccinated against Covid-19, stay in a 'designated residence', get tested for the virus regularly and provide 'work-related itineraries', according to Dimsumdaily Hong Kong.
The news of Kidman's exemption has sparked backlash on social media, with several Hong Kong locals complaining about the apparent 'double standard' enjoyed by the celebrity visitor.
'Nice to know that Nicole Kidman isn’t at all mercenary & stands with the people of Hong Kong. Man facepalming', one raged.
Another added: 'The fact that Nicole Kidman films the series Expats without quarantine already tells the privilege of expats in Hong Kong.'
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Nicole's publicist for comment in relation to this story.
Backlash: The news of Kidman's exemption has sparked backlash on social media, with several Hong Kong locals complaining about the apparent 'double standard' enjoyed by the celebrity visitor
Opinion: 'The fact that Nicole Kidman films the series Expats without quarantine already tells the privilege of expats in Hong Kong,' commented one user on Twitter
Expats is based on Janice Y.K. Lee's novel The Expatriates, and follows the vibrant and extravagant lives of a wealthy expat community.
Nicole's departure from Sydney coincided with growing fears over the new draconian lockdown rules that are set to be implemented in New South Wales.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that sweeping changes are coming to Sydney's lockdown as police were given 48 hours to redraft the public health orders to bring the city's spiralling Covid crisis under control.
A record high of 681 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in New South Wales on Thursday.
New show: Expats is based on Janice Y.K. Lee's novel The Expatriates, and follows the vibrant and extravagant lives of a wealthy expat community
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