Even though they had completed a seven-day quarantine in Shenzhen, they will remain under a "closed-loop management" system for the span of the whole meeting.

NPC delegate Brave Chan Yung said he was thrilled to pass through all the tests before being allowed on the plane to Beijing. "We had to take a nasal and two throat swab tests since taking the coach to Shenzhen last Thursday and daily virus tests It was a really hard time," he said.

With at least a dozen delegates staying in Shenzhen for a 21-day quarantine because they were infected or classified as close contacts, He said this year's Hong Kong delegation is half that of last year's.

The sole Hong Kong delegate to the NPC standing committee, Tam Yiu-chung, said he had no idea of the exact number of members who are going to Beijing as more are en route yesterday.

Tam, who was listed as a close contact of an infected patient and was therefore not allowed to attend the meeting, said he hadn't heard of videoconferencing arrangements for the meetings that allowed participation by delegates and advisers who couldn't be in Beijing.

"I believe NPC and CPPCC members who are unable to attend in person can only watch the livestream of the meetings," Tam said.

The delegation to Beijing were out through another test upon arrival in the capital that saw them seated one row of seats apart from each other.

They were also required to wear a full personal protective gear to board the plane, and under the closed-loop management, are only allowed to stay and eat in the hotel where they are staying and use its facilities.

CPPCC member Rock Chen Chung-nin said he understood the necessity for the strict requirements, as the outbreak in Hong Kong was very serious, and that he, as a representative of Hong Kong, had a responsibility to ensure he wasn't one of those infected.

"It is necessary [for the strict measures], and we are also cooperating, as we do not want to infect anyone else in the meeting," Chen said.