The holiday comes after the city in recent weeks recorded a steady decline in Covid cases, with the government yesterday announcing details of relaxation in the city’s Covid rules which are set to kick in on April 21.

At the Central piers, hundreds of people lined up in the morning waiting for their turn to catch a ferry to get to the outlying islands, including Lamma Island, Cheung Chau, and Peng Chau.

In Sai Kung, restaurants were full at lunchtime, although under the containment rules, only two customers could sit at the same table.

One woman said she was not worried about the coronavirus, but she would still wear her masks and observe epidemic prevention measures.

“People need to get some fresh air after fighting the epidemic for so long, and that is why I invited my friends to head out to the countryside today,” she said.

However, some said they originally planned to head to beaches to enjoy the sun but could not do so due to the city’s Covid rules, with beaches remaining closed until the next phase of easing.