The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Lee Ka-chao, presided over a press conference on the morning of the 3rd and stated that Hong Kong and the Mainland will be fully "cleared through customs" from February 6, and citizens can travel at will and at any time.
Clarify the specific requirements to help you go back and forth worry-free!
1. Increase the number of open ports without setting a limit on the number of people
From February 6th, all land ports in Hong Kong will be opened, that is, on the current basis, Cairo Lake Port, Heung Yuen Wai/Liantang Port, and Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port will be added to provide travel inspection services.
Cargo services at the Sha Tau Kok Port have also resumed.
At that time, there will be no restrictions at all ports, no appointment is required, and you can travel at will.
Deng Bingqiang, Director of the Security Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, said that the opening hours of the four reopened land ports are the same as before the epidemic. Luohu is open from 6:30 to midnight, Huanggang and Lok Ma Chau are open 24 hours, Liantang/Xiang Yuen Wai Port The opening hours are from 7:00 to 22:00. All private car services for passenger inspection will be fully resumed. The Sha Tau Kok Port will be open for freight from 7:00 to 22:00.
2. Cancellation of nucleic acid testing requirements Overseas travelers who have not been vaccinated can also travel to Hong Kong
Starting from February 6, the requirement of nucleic acid testing before entering and leaving Hong Kong will be cancelled.
The quick test is not required for people coming from Macau to Hong Kong.
However, regarding the rapid test requirements for overseas and Taiwan regions entering Hong Kong, Li Jiachao said that due to the comprehensive "customs clearance" between Hong Kong and the mainland, there will be more personnel exchanges. In order to reduce risks, the rapid test requirements for overseas and Taiwan regions will be maintained for a period of time , and review after observation, but the vaccination requirements for non-Hong Kong residents entering from overseas will be cancelled, that is, overseas people who have not been vaccinated can also enter Hong Kong.
The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao, stated that Hong Kong and the Mainland will be fully "cleared through customs" from February 6.
Photo by Chen Yongnuo
3. Resuming face-to-face teaching for cross-border students in stages
Chen Guoji, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, stated at the press conference that day that face-to-face classes for cross-border students will be resumed in an orderly manner from February 8, and will be implemented in two phases, that is, secondary schools will resume on February 8, and then on February 22. Extended to primary schools, kindergartens and special schools.
He pointed out that the stages are based on the self-care ability and cross-border needs of students of different ages. The Hong Kong Education Bureau will continue to contact relevant departments, school circles, and school buses to provide support.
Cai Ruolian, Director of the Education Bureau of the SAR Government, said that the SAR Government will provide convenient customs clearance services for cross-border students. The Education Bureau will notify parents of customs clearance arrangements and transportation facilities at each entry and exit control point through the school, and various departments will process school bus service applications as soon as possible.
In addition, in order to allow cross-border students to adapt to face-to-face classes as soon as possible, the SAR government has set up a special page "Campus Returning to Normal Spirit" to provide schools and parents with tips, resource packs and short videos.
"Customs clearance" makes Hong Kong "live"
From January 8, 2023, Hong Kong and the Mainland will implement the first phase of "customs clearance".
Checking the statistics on the flow of inbound and outbound passengers released by the Hong Kong Immigration Department on January 8, a total of 46,098 people entered Hong Kong on that day, an increase of nearly 30% from the day before the "customs clearance".
There were 62,409 people who left Hong Kong that day, an increase of 1.4 times compared to the day before the "customs clearance".
At that time, in order to reduce the risk of cross-infection, people entering the mainland from Hong Kong were required to hold a negative nucleic acid test result certificate within 48 hours before travel.
The number of tourists in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong has increased significantly.
(File photo) Photo by Li Zhihua
As of today, the measure has been in place for nearly a month. It coincides with the return of the Spring Festival and the start of school for students, and the number of people traveling between Hong Kong and the Mainland has increased.
According to the data of the Hong Kong Immigration Department, during the five-day Chinese New Year holiday period from January 21st to the fourth day of the 25th, a total of 417,865 tourists came to Hong Kong, and 542,610 people left Hong Kong, reflecting that Hong Kong is gradually recovering. with vitality.
Li Jiachao also attended the launching ceremony of Hong Kong's large-scale publicity event "Hello, Hong Kong!" on the 2nd, saying that since Hong Kong and the mainland resumed the first phase of "customs clearance" on January 8 this year, Hong Kong's commerce, retail, and catering have been in motion. After the full "customs clearance" between Hong Kong and the mainland next week, people-to-people and cultural exchanges will be widely boosted, and Hong Kong will be promoted to the world and the mainland in an all-round way. I believe that Hong Kong in 2023 will be more prosperous, more exciting, and the market will be more active.
Shao Jiahui, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong wholesale and retail industry, said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency, "Hong Kong has always been regarded as a 'shopping paradise'. In addition to the consumption of local residents in Hong Kong, the consumption of foreign tourists is a very important part." He explained that Hong Kong One-third of the retail industry depends on tourists visiting Hong Kong. "Before the epidemic, there were almost 65 million inbound tourists a year, and nearly 80% of them were mainland tourists." Under the epidemic, the number of mainland tourists visiting Hong Kong is almost "clear." zero".
In Shao Jiahui's view, the comprehensive "customs clearance" arrangement between Hong Kong and the Mainland is tantamount to a "timely rain" for Hong Kong's retail industry, which has had a very difficult survival in the three years of the epidemic.
"The industry welcomes it very much. I believe that the continuous increase in tourists to Hong Kong will drive the entire retail industry. Many shops have begun to recruit more staff in a planned way to replenish the supply of goods. The flow of people in Tsim Sha Tsui has increased significantly, and many mainland tourists have already seen shopping. "Shao Jiahui is very optimistic about the performance of Hong Kong's retail industry this year, and believes that business will return to the pre-epidemic situation in the near future.
Many mainland tourists come to Hong Kong by high-speed rail.
(File photo) Photo by Li Zhihua
"It is the good news that everyone has been looking forward to for a long time." Yao Pakliang, a member of the Hong Kong Tourism Legislative Council, told reporters that during the Lunar New Year, the number of mainland visitors to Hong Kong did not show a significant "V" rebound. "The cancellation of nucleic acid testing this time can be said to be true. Open the 'door to recovery of the tourism industry'. I believe that after the full 'customs clearance', the overall atmosphere of the tourism industry will improve, and the number of short-distance consumption tourists will first increase. The next step is to promote the relaxation of endorsements for mainland tour groups."
Yao Boliang said that Hong Kong's tourism industry is still in the initial stage of recovery, and there are still many things that need to be done to attract tourists to Hong Kong again.
"We want everyone to see the advantages of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is not just a 'food capital' and a 'shopping paradise'. Hong Kong's history, culture and new infrastructure are very attractive." Yao Bailiang said that Hong Kong's next step is to "promote more "" "Multi-package" and "Multi-promotion", and do a good job of in-depth tour routes.
"I hope that this year's tourist business can return to 50% to 60% before the epidemic." Yao Bailiang pointed out that the industry is now under pressure in terms of manpower and funds. Hong Kong’s carrying capacity can handle it. However, as the number of tourists continues to increase, airlines, hotels, and travel agencies, for example, need to increase their manpower. I hope that the SAR government will have a deeper understanding of the industry’s situation and provide some appropriate policy support to help the industry recover as soon as possible.”
Writer: Dai Xiaolu
Photographer: Li Zhihua and Chen Yongnuo
Video reporter: Fan Siyi Liang Yuan