Hong Kong is aiming to reopen its border with China by mid-January, metropolis chief John Lee introduced on Saturday after coming back from conferences in Beijing.
The border has been successfully shut for practically three years whereas China enforced a zero-COVID technique of snap lockdowns, journey restrictions and mass testing that battered the world’s second-largest financial system.
After abruptly reversing on its pandemic insurance policies final month, Beijing has been grappling with a surge in coronavirus infections throughout the nation, with many hospitals and morgues overflowing.
Despite the uptick in instances, Lee mentioned the border between the semi-autonomous business hub and the remainder of the nation can be restored to its pre-pandemic state.
“The central government has agreed to the full reopening of the border in a gradual and orderly manner,” he informed reporters on the airport.
Local authorities on either side of the border will current a proposal for Beijing’s approval, “intending to be implemented before mid-January”, he added.
Lee met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang this week throughout a four-day journey to Beijing, his first since taking workplace in July.
Xi mentioned he “fully affirmed” the work of Lee’s administration and praised him for safeguarding nationwide safety and reviving the native financial system.
Hong Kong has pursued a lighter model of Beijing’s zero-COVID technique and has additionally not too long ago begun unwinding restrictions in a bid to reboot its worldwide business ties.
Currently, Hong Kong residents travelling to China can solely achieve this by a handful of border management factors and are topic to necessary quarantine.
Expecting the reopening to spur a rise in cross-border journey, Hong Kong and mainland authorities will take into account a every day quota, Lee mentioned.
Immigration, customs and law enforcement officials have already been ordered to return to their border posts after Christmas, in accordance with native media. — Agence France-Presse
