[Global Times Comprehensive Report] On January 8 next year, the mainland will cancel entry quarantine and nucleic acid testing on arrival, and will resume quarantine-free customs clearance with Hong Kong.

Many Hong Kong media have used the theme of "spring is finally ushered in" in the tourism industry, cheering for the further recovery of the economy.

　　According to Hong Kong's "Sing Tao Daily" reported on the 28th, the National Immigration Administration issued an announcement on the evening of the 27th, stating that it will optimize immigration management policies and measures from January 8 next year, and orderly resume the acceptance and approval of Chinese citizens' applications for traveling abroad and visiting friends. For passports, visas for travel and business trips to Hong Kong for mainland residents will be resumed.

On the same day, the reservation system of Shenzhen Health Station showed that it will be offline from January 8 next year.

On the 27th, there was a crowd of people applying for licenses in the entry-exit reception hall of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, and many of them inquired about renewing expired passports and Hong Kong and Macau passes.

　　Hong Kong's "Oriental Daily" stated on the 28th that after the mainland announced that entry into the country no longer requires centralized quarantine and other policies, within 15 minutes on various travel platforms, the number of searches for overseas air tickets surged 7 times, and Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand became popular tourist destinations. .

According to Ctrip's data, Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea have become the destinations with the fastest-growing search volume.

　　On the afternoon of the 28th, Hong Kong Chief Executive Lee Ka-chao presided over a press conference at the government headquarters, announcing the relaxation of a number of epidemic prevention measures, including the cancellation of vaccine passes; the cancellation of all mandatory entry tests. People arriving from overseas, the mainland, Macau, and Taiwan do not need to undergo nucleic acid testing. Change to a 5-day self-test health advice; cancel all social distance measures, and only maintain the mask order.

　　Hong Kong's tourism industry has finally waited for the dawn of tourists returning to Xiangjiang.

Hong Kong China Travel Service stated that it has prepared more than 70 short-term tours and more than 100 long-distance tours targeting Guangdong Province, and has deployed more tours to welcome mainland tourists to Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Tourism Promotion Association stated that during the three-year absence of mainland tourists in Hong Kong, many scenic spots in Hong Kong, such as the Palace Museum, the West Kowloon Cultural District, and the Central Market, have been completed one after another, bringing surprises to tourists. Border traffic resumption arrangements.

People in the industry said frankly that they have quietly prepared for recovery and contributed to the revival of Hong Kong's tourism industry.

A staff member who has served as a team leader and tour guide for nearly 10 years said that after the epidemic, his livelihood was greatly affected. He had changed jobs as a truck driver and security guard.

Qiu Junwei, who has been in the tourism industry for nearly 20 years, said frankly that the tourism industry is gradually recovering and is attracting talents from various aspects.

　　Yang Shufen, director-general of the Hong Kong Travel Industry Council, predicted that after the mainland cancels entry quarantine and nucleic acid testing, if 10,000 mainland tourists visit Hong Kong every day, that is, 10% of the pre-epidemic figure, it will be a good start. I hope that the third quarter of 2023 will gradually increase. Restore to 80% to 90% of business before the epidemic.

Legislative Council member Huang Guo estimated that there are at least 20,000 to 30,000 people every day, and "there may be 100,000 to 80,000 people during the Chinese New Year."

A survey on the employment outlook for the first quarter of next year released by ManpowerGroup on the 28th found that 44% of the 508 employers interviewed expected to increase their manpower in the next three months, among which the employment outlook index for the consumer goods and services industry was +12. %.

　　Other industries are starting to benefit as well.

On the 24th and 25th, Centaline Real Estate’s top ten housing estates recorded 17 transactions, an increase of 183% compared with the previous weekend, hitting an 18-week high; if counting the 4-day Christmas holiday, there were about 32 transactions, the highest since 2010 during the long Christmas holiday. The transaction reached a new high.

The catering industry is also gearing up. Xu Wenwei, president of the Rice Miao Dietary Association, said, "Hong Kong is a gourmet capital, and it is still very attractive to mainland tourists. It is a good thing for Hong Kong's overall economy that the market has been bustling again for a long time."

　　Zhuang Tailiang, executive director of the Lau Chor-dek Institute of Global Economics and Finance at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that with the reopening of the mainland, the flow of people between the two places will drive up Hong Kong's retail industry, tourism and shop rents. It is estimated that Hong Kong's annual GDP will increase by 5% next year. %.

"The biggest opportunity for global development in 2023 is in China, and the biggest opportunity for Hong Kong's development is in the mainland." Cai Guanshen, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, believes that after customs clearance with the mainland, Hong Kong's economy will soon regain its vitality.

(Yang Weimin)