• China announced on Friday that cross-border travel between the mainland, and Hong Kong.
• Macau would fully resume on February 6.
• Three border crossings in Hong Kong have not yet been reopened.

China announced on Friday that cross-border travel between the mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau would fully resume on February 6, eliminating current quotas and doing away with the requirement to take the COVID-19 test in order to travel.

The number of customs checkpoints open will increase to pre-pandemic levels, and group travel between China and its two special administrative areas of Hong Kong and Macau will resume, according to a statement on the website of China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

There is still a COVID-19 testing requirement and a quota system in place for travellers between the mainland and Hong Kong even after China reopened its borders to the outside world on January 8. Three border crossings in Hong Kong have not yet been reopened.

China made its decision a day after Hong Kong began a promotion push with 500,000 free flights to entice travellers, companies, and investors back to the financial centre following more than three years of strict COVID controls.

In an effort to fend off COVID, Hong Kong was largely closed off behind closed borders for much of the past three years, with required quarantine of up to three weeks for visitors as well as stringent testing and screening.

The ex-colony of Britain adhered strictly to China’s zero-COVID policy until the middle of 2022, at which point it started to progressively relax its regulations.

The majority of Hong Kong’s COVID regulations remained in place until December, however mask use is still required when exercising and students are required to perform daily quick antigen testing.

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