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Hong Kong-mainland China border could reopen soon as city seeks to recover from Covid-19
- Chief Executive Carrie Lam says time has come for a ‘pragmatic approach’ over flow of people
- Authorities discussing removing 14-day quarantine period for those with negative Covid-19 tests
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Hong Kong is in advanced internal talks to reopen the border for local residents living in mainland China to return to the city, with officials hoping the move will help revive the beleaguered economy.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday that discussions were well under way to relaunch cross-border travel in a “gradual and orderly manner”, while taking into account the risks to public health.
“It is time for us to take a very pragmatic approach to allow people flow, whether [it is] between Hong Kong and the mainland, or Hong Kong and Macau, and Hong Kong with other overseas places,” she said.
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Lam said Hong Kong residents living on the mainland should be given priority to return to the city, without undergoing the 14-day mandatory quarantine if they were able to show a negative Covid-19 test.
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Hong Kong’s tough quarantine and travel restrictions
Hong Kong’s tough quarantine and travel restrictions
The arrangement, for which no time frame has yet been given, would allow those living across the border to enter the city to meet relatives and attend to other personal matters.
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