Hong Kong aims to scrap or ease Covid-19 testing rule for cross-border travellers, end quota system after Lunar New Year, city’s No 2 official says

City government in talks with mainland authorities on further relaxation, such as replacing PCR test with RAT, or scrapping requirement altogether

Immigration figures show more than 400,000 Hong Kong residents left city; only about 86,000 mainland, Macau, Taiwan and overseas arrivals in Lunar New Year run-up

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A total quota of 50,000 travellers a day for four land border checkpoints was raised to 65,000 for four days. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 2:02pm, 22 Jan 2023Updated: 8:38am, 23 Jan 2023

Hong Kong aims to scrap or ease its Covid-19 testing requirement for cross-border travellers and it is ready to gradually end its daily quota system after the Lunar New Year period if the pandemic situation remains stable, the city’s No 2 official has said.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki on revealed the latest government thinking on Sunday as figures showed more than 400,000 Hongkongers had left the city but only about 86,000 mainland Chinese, Macau, Taiwan and overseas visitors arrived in the past four days as Lunar New Year travel peaked.

Chan said the government was discussing with mainland authorities possible arrangements for a further relaxation of curbs, including the replacement of a requirement for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests with rapid antigen tests (RAT) for cross-border travellers, or even removal of the rule altogether.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan delivers a Lunar New Year message. Photo: Handout

“The pandemic situation is very satisfactory. Concerning the relaxation of the PCR testing requirement, we are seeking to reach a consensus with mainland authorities to cancel it as soon as possible,” Chan said after he attended a Lunar New Year event.

“There are two possibilities, one is to replace it with a RAT, another is to scrap the testing requirement altogether. Our goal is to remove it.”

People travelling between the mainland and Hong Kong are required at present to show a negative result from PCR tests taken within 48 hours of departure.

Chan added that the city was ready for a further easing of cross-border travel curbs as the number of Covid-19 infections had not increased since additional checkpoints reopened two weeks ago. He said the experts consulted also believed the chances of the daily caseload rebounding were slim.