Editorial | Full border mainland-Hong Kong reopening presents challenges
- Big day showed health declarations system for travellers going north and transport connections are in need of improvement
The full resumption of cross-border travel over the past two days has been largely smooth. However, some logistical arrangements, such as health declarations for northbound travellers and transport connections, can be further improved.
Meanwhile, some Covid-battered industries say they have yet to benefit from the reopening. The road to recovery looks likely to be a long one.
As many as 280,000 people crossed the border following the abolition of daily travel quotas and pre-departure nucleic acid tests on Monday. The figure outstripped the daily cap of 60,000 during the previous opening-up phase, but still fell short of the daily 320,000 crossings at land control points before the pandemic.
The full reopening did ensure some northbound tour groups departed via Lo Wu, a popular checkpoint that is back in use for the first time in three years. But the retail and tourism hotspots for mainland tourists across Hong Kong remained sparse, and it seems the benefits have yet to trickle down to individual businesses.
02:23
Travellers praise restriction-free movement as last closed Hong Kong-mainland China borders reopen
A major turnaround is not expected until the long May holidays on the mainland, according to some industry leaders.