Hong Kong aims for January 8 reopening of border with mainland China, city’s No 2 official says in clearest indication yet on long-awaited date
- Chief Secretary Eric Chan says checkpoints that have been closed for three years are poised to resume operations, with ‘quota’ set in first phase
- City leader John Lee had earlier indicated mid-January target
Hong Kong is aiming quarantine-free travel with mainland China as early as January 8 to pave the way for a full reopening of the border, the city’s No 2 official has said.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who is coordinating work across all 15 government bureaus on finalising details with central authorities, said on his weekly blog on Sunday that some checkpoints that had been closed for three years were poised to resume operations.
Hong Kong on Sunday recorded 23,361 Covid-19 infections, 326 of which were imported, as well as 62 related deaths. The city’s total tally stands at 2,648,994 cases and 11,869 fatalities.
Chan said: “We will set a quota on the number of travellers commuting between Hong Kong and the mainland and will increase the frequency of sea, land and air transport to meet demand.
“Depending on the first phase of the situation, we will gradually expand the scale for a complete reopening of the border.”