Hong Kong-mainland China border ‘to reopen earliest January 10, business and family needs prioritised for those coming into city’

Hong Kong is set to reopen its border with mainland China on January 10 at the earliest with priority for travel to the city given to those with business and family needs, sources have said.

A mainland insider told the Post on Wednesday that while there would be no quota for those crossing Hong Kong’s land border into Shenzhen, all inbound travellers to the city from the mainland would be required to present a negative Covid-19 result from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test done within 48 hours before arrival.

“In the first stage, knowing Hong Kong’s capacity, tourists will not be included for the time being,” the source said, revealing that central authorities would first allow people with business visas and family reunion needs to come to the city.

More details of the long-awaited border reopening came to light hours after China’s National Immigration Administration announced it would start issuing tourist and business visas to allow Chinese nationals to enter Hong Kong on January 8.

The current 3,500-quota system for Hongkongers heading to the mainland would go “offline” on the same day, in what a local government source said was preparation for gradual border reopening.

While Hong Kong authorities are ironing out arrangements, the city’s medical experts have called for vaccination requirements for incoming cross-border travellers, to prevent the local healthcare system from being overwhelmed. China is facing its worst coronavirus wave amid a pivot from its long-held, zero-Covid policy.

University of Hong Kong microbiologist Ho Pak-leung advocated prioritising triple-vaccinated travellers from the mainland.