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Borders between Hong Kong and mainland to fully reopen before mid-January
Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu said authorities are now aiming to fully reopen borders between the SAR and mainland before mid-January after getting the green light from the Central Government, and a coordination unit dedicated to the matter has been launched already, with members including all 15 government bureaus.
Beijing has agreed to implement full borders reopening, Lee said as he arrived at the airport on Saturday afternoon after finishing his maiden duty visit in Beijing.
He also said his cabinet will immediately contact the National Health Commission, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of the State Council, and authorities in Guangdong and Shenzhen to come up with a proposal agreed by all parties.
“Our goal is to reach an agreement as soon as possible and to file the proposal to Beijing for approval, with an aim to implement the arrangements before mid-January,” Lee said.
“We must formulate the borders reopening arrangements gradually and orderly,” Lee added. He also noted his cabinet has to mull with the Guangdong and Shenzhen governments on the daily entry number of travelers and which border point to reopen.
“The SAR government has immediately launched a coordination unit on border reopening arrangements, joined by all 15 bureaus of the government and led by the Chief Secretary.”
Lee then thanked the Central Government for caring for Hongkongers so that citizens' wish of borders reopening can come true at last.
He believed that Beijing’s OK sign can help revive the city’s economy, as families can finally reunite and business and travel trips can resume after more than three years.
Restrictions on travel across the border between Hong Kong and the mainland were first imposed in early 2020.
Currently, people in the SAR can only access the mainland via the city's airport or two check points: one at Shenzhen Bay and the other via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge.
Most other border points including the West Kowloon high speed rail terminus have been closed since early 2020.
Earlier reports said preparations were already under way for reopening the border, including deploying thousands of officers from the city's customs, immigration and police services.
He also said his cabinet will immediately contact the National Health Commission, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs of the State Council, and authorities in Guangdong and Shenzhen to come up with a proposal agreed by all parties.
“Our goal is to reach an agreement as soon as possible and to file the proposal to Beijing for approval, with an aim to implement the arrangements before mid-January,” Lee said.
“We must formulate the borders reopening arrangements gradually and orderly,” Lee added. He also noted his cabinet has to mull with the Guangdong and Shenzhen governments on the daily entry number of travelers and which border point to reopen.
“The SAR government has immediately launched a coordination unit on border reopening arrangements, joined by all 15 bureaus of the government and led by the Chief Secretary.”
Lee then thanked the Central Government for caring for Hongkongers so that citizens' wish of borders reopening can come true at last.
He believed that Beijing’s OK sign can help revive the city’s economy, as families can finally reunite and business and travel trips can resume after more than three years.
Restrictions on travel across the border between Hong Kong and the mainland were first imposed in early 2020.
Currently, people in the SAR can only access the mainland via the city's airport or two check points: one at Shenzhen Bay and the other via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge.
Most other border points including the West Kowloon high speed rail terminus have been closed since early 2020.
Earlier reports said preparations were already under way for reopening the border, including deploying thousands of officers from the city's customs, immigration and police services.
