Editorial | Lifting of black code calls for bright ideas
- With the scrapping of the final Covid-19 travel restriction at the border with mainland China, Hong Kong must make the most of opportunities this presents
There was relief at the border with mainland China this week when, for the first time in nearly four years, pandemic “black code” health declarations were scrapped. The change should be welcomed, despite fears easier travel may result in relatively more tourist spending on the mainland than in the city.
Now the government and private sector need to take steps to seize opportunities with the return to normality made possible by the end of the last remaining Covid-19 restriction.
Mainland customs introduced the system in January 2020 as part of their zero-tolerance approach to the coronavirus. Everyone going in or out had to complete online forms before accessing the QR codes required to proceed.
Long queues formed at the border as travellers, especially the elderly, fumbled with smartphones to complete a process many viewed as too complicated.
Following the lifting of restrictions on Wednesday, tourists and commuters said procedures had improved. Local and foreign business groups in Hong Kong praised the move as a positive step on the way to improving connectivity.