The Diamond Princess cruise ship, operated by Carnival Corp, sits docked in Yokohama, Japan, on Feb 12. Japan’s Health Ministry confirmed an additional 39 cases of the novel coronavirus on the cruise ship in Yokohama, bringing the total number of infections from the quarantined vessel to 174 on that day. [Photo/Agencies]

Hong Kong passengers are seen inside a bus as they leave the coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Tokyo, Japan February 21, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

Hong Kong lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun (second left) discusses evacuation details with Under Secretary for Security Sonny Au Chi-kwong (third left) on Feb 18 in Japan. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A fleet of buses arrives at Yokohama Harbor on Feb 19 to pick up the Hong Kong residents stranded on the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship. [Photo provided to China Daily]

One hundred and six Hong Kong residents who were onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship return to Hong Kong on Feb 20 on a government chartered flight. [Photo / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT]