Latest update on Hong Kong-Chinese mainland border reopening

“Although we hope to reopen the Hong Kong-Chinese mainland border as soon as possible, it’s unwise for us to require immediate open from all provinces without epidemic control measures. We must start with a small-scale, orderly and step-by-step manner,” said Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR, in an interview recently, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily.

She said there would be limited quotas for cross-border in the beginning. People who have the urgent need to visit elders, attend funerals or do business will be given priority. "We might only open to the Guangdong province at the first stage and resume the land ports between Shenzhen and Hong Kong as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge,” she said.

Lam also highlighted that there would be certain requirements on applicants, including getting fully vaccinated, having obtained proof of a valid negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result, using LeaveHomeSafe, a contact-tracing app, in Hong Kong and Yuekang Code or Suikang Code in Guangdong. For further contact when COVID-19 cases occur, Hong Kong citizens also need a Chinese mainland mobile phone number.

On November 5, Carrie Lam expressed her hope to resume cross-border travel by February of 2022.

The Hong Kong-Chinese mainland border has been closed due to the outbreak of Covid-19. The Hong Kong SAR launched Return2hk and Come2hk, which helped 300,000 Hong Kong residents return to Hong Kong and 10,000 non-Hong Kong residents come to Hong Kong.