HK to Reopen More Crossing Points

Regionalupdate · 发表于 2023-1-8 10:26:59

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Details on Border Reopening Released by HK: Daily 60,000 Cap

A view of the Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will reopen four more border points, allowing a daily total of 60,000 Hong Kong residents to enter the Chinese mainland starting on Sunday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said at a media briefing on Thursday.

Among them, 50,000 with advance bookings are expected to pass through three land crossings — the soon to be reopened Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To, and the currently operating Shenzhen Bay Port.

Lee estimated that a further 10,000 will pass through the four air, sea and bridge ports — the China Ferry Terminal and the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal, both of which will be reopened, and the currently open Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The government will control quotas at these entry points by managing the number of tickets available, with no requirement for booking in advance.

Based on the daily quota, Lee estimated that up to 1.8 million Hong Kong residents could return to the mainland in one month and more than 3.6 million over two months.

In addition, no ceiling has been set for the number of mainland residents in Hong Kong permitted to enter the mainland. Similarly, Hong Kong residents on the mainland will not be subject to a quota limitation when returning to the city.

A booking system for travelers passing through land ports was rolled out at 6 pm on Thursday, allowing travelers to pick a specific checkpoint and a designated time slot before traveling.

In the first phase, the system will provide booking services for the next eight weeks, from Sunday to March 4. The reservation system is on a first-come, first-served basis. Each applicant can make reservations for up to three companions.

After the Chinese New Year, cross-boundary students can return to Hong Kong daily to resume face-to-face classes in Hong Kong. No advance booking is needed for students.

After reviewing the operation of the first phase, the government will consider reopening more checkpoints, including for high-speed rail, and increasing the quota for travelers.In preparation for border reopening with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) since January 8, ports in neighboring Shenzhen are ramping up efforts in recent days, including conducting drills, examining equipment, and decorating ports with red lanterns, as well as flowers to welcome influx of passengers from Hong Kong, after three years closure due to COVID-19 control measures.

The command office of Futian in Shenzhen was reopened on Saturday. Police officers have held drills over recent days to familiarize themselves with border crossing procedures for passengers.

Futian was among the four ports that were closed three years ago. It was given a quota of 35,000 people that can travel from Shenzhen to Hong Kong per day via the Futian port after border reopened.

On Friday, officers in Futian practiced dealing with emergencies, including detecting smugglers. A new medical stand was set up at the port, to transfer people with fever symptoms and other diseases to nearby hospitals.

Workers decorated buildings and trees at the Futian port and Wenjindu port with red lanterns and flowers as a welcoming sign for arrivals from Hong Kong.

Similar preparation drills were held at Wenjindu port. An officer told the Global Times that they were practicing checking of nucleic acid test results and managing border crossing appointments for arrivals and departures.

Prospective travelers in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of arrival. In anticipation of making the journey, larger groups of people were lining up in Shenzhen's test points than usual. A test point in Shenzhen's Futian district saw a threefold increase in people asking for tests, after the news of border reopening with Hong Kong was announced on Thursday.

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