Travel restrictions tightened, so Hong Kong residents, businessmen set off early on Lunar New Year trips to mainland
- Surge in travellers using Shenzhen Bay border crossing to return home for family reunions
- Mainland immigrants who can’t afford quarantine requirements to spend festival in Hong Kong
Thousands of Hong Kong residents have been making their way back to the mainland to be in time for Lunar New Year family reunions, even as Chinese authorities have tightened pandemic-related restrictions on travellers.
Adding to the daily crowds at the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint were business travellers eager to see their suppliers and contacts after almost a year of avoiding travel because of Covid-19.
The number of people crossing the border built up from late last month, with statistics showing far more Hong Kong residents leaving for the mainland than returning.
On January 5, mainland authorities imposed fresh restrictions on Hong Kong visitors. Aside from a daily maximum of 2,000 visitors from the city, all have to make online reservations in advance at the hotels where they will spend two weeks of compulsory quarantine.
Since last week too, those going to Shenzhen have to spend a third week of quarantine at home after completing their mandatory stay at designated hotels.
On Tuesday, Nel Chen, 30, an executive in a Hong Kong investment firm, was in the queue to clear customs at Shenzhen Bay before starting her three weeks of confinement, first at a hotel and then at home.
“As soon as I come out of quarantine, I’m going directly home to my parents at lightning speed,” she said. “I miss my dog.”