Mainland to fully resume travel with HK/Macao

The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong/Macao will fully reopen with no COVID-19 restrictions, including no quota for arrivals on either side, from Monday, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council announced this morning.

Hong Kong travelers cross the border at Futian Checkpoint on Jan. 8. Xinhua

All crossings between the mainland and the SARs, as well as transport links, should be reopened Monday, a notice from the office said, without giving details.

Three land crossings between Hong Kong and Shenzhen – Lo Wu (Luohu Checkpoint on the Shenzhen side), Lok Ma Chau (Huanggang Checkpoint) and Heung Yuen Wai (Liantang Checkpoint) – will reopen Monday, South China Morning Post reported today, citing sources.

According to the notice, travelers from Hong Kong and Macao who have no travel history abroad within seven days of departure will not require a negative nucleic acid test result to enter the mainland. Those who have overseas travel history within the past seven days can enter the mainland after providing immigration authorities of the SARs with a negative nucleic acid test report issued within 48 hours. Children aged under 3 years old are exempt from the requirement.

Travelers will still need to declare their health status when crossing the border to the mainland. Those reporting symptoms such as fever will need to undergo testing by mainland customs. People who test positive can isolate at home or in other premises, or seek medical treatment.

Hong Kong would also scrap requirement of a negative test for those from the mainland when entering the SAR from Monday, South China Morning Post said today.

This would be a further relaxation from Jan. 8 when quarantine-free travel between the two sides resumed, with travelers still required to present a negative test result taken up to 48 hours before departure. The number of travelers heading each way via three land checkpoints that reopened Jan. 8 was also capped at 50,000 per day.