China Opens Full Travel With Hong Kong And Macau Starting Monday: Quota Deleted, No COVID-19 Tests Need

Illustration of China. (Wikimedia Commons/Nggsc)

JAKARTA - Chinese authorities on Friday announced cross-border travel with Hong Kong and Macau to be fully resumed from February 6, removing existing quotas and canceling necessary mandatory COVID-19 tests before traveling.

The group tour between China and two administrative regions, especially Hong Kong and Macau, will continue, while the number of customs checkpoints opened will return to pre-pandemic levels, China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said in a statement on its website.

Previously, despite China reopening its borders to the world on January 8, the quota system and COVID testing requirements still apply to travelers between the mainland and Hong Kong.

Three border checkpoints that have not reopened will open from February 6, Hong Kong leader John Lee said at a press conference on Friday.

"Hong Kong will also cancel the COVID vaccination requirements to enter Hong Kong for all arrivals, including non-Hong Kong residents," Lee added.

Searches on China's travel website Qunar for round-trip plane tickets to and from Hong Kong and mainland increased sevenfold on Friday following China's announcement, data from Chinese state media Transportation News showed.

China's announcement comes a day after Hong Kong launched a promotional campaign, including 500,000 free flights to bring visitors, businesses and investors back to financial centers after more than three years of strict COVID restrictions.

Hong Kong has been largely behind closed borders for nearly three years in a bid to ward off COVID, with mandatory quarantine of up to three weeks for people arriving, as well as intensive testing and restrictions.

The former British colony is closely following China's zero-COVID policy until mid-2022, as the country begins to gradually loosen its rules.

Previously, Hong Kong removed most of the remaining COVID rules in December, but wearing masks remains mandatory except for exercise, while students must perform rapid antigen tests every day.