Plans Push Ahead to Reopen HK-China Border

Border between HK and China plans to open in mid-January

On Christmas Eve in Hong Kong, the city recorded over 20,000 cases of Covid-19, the highest level since March, and yet the government is actively working towards re-opening the border with China by mid-January -- only weeks away.

The border has effectively been shut for almost three years due to the pandemic, making it very hard for people to go to work or school across the border at specific border control points and of course the dreaded hotel quarantine.

But after Beijing abruptly pulled a U-turn from its "zero-Covid" policy recently, there are plans to re-open the border very soon.

Lee met with Xi to discuss border reopening

"The central government has agreed to the full reopening of the border in a gradual and orderly manner," Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu told the media.

Local authorities on both sides of the border will present a proposal for Beijing's approval, "intending to be implemented before mid-January," he added, and that there will probably be a daily quota of mainlanders coming into Hong Kong.

While many businesses will be eager for these tourists to come back, flooding the streets, buses and MTR trains, others will miss having Hong Kong to themselves. That almost three-year privilege will come to an end soon.

Government officials like Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki who is leading the Coordination Group on Resumption of Normal Travel, is feeling the time crunch.

"We must race against time to prepare for resumption of normal travel, with a two-pronged approach adopted. We need to formulate a sound proposal on such resumption as soon as practical," he said.

Chan needs to come up with plan with Guangdong

"At the same time, we need to maintain close liaison with the relevant authorities at the Central level, as well as from the Guangdong province and Shenzhen municipality, and submit the proposal to the Central Government for approval after reaching a consensus with them. The target is to resume normal travel by mid-January next year, such that various types of cross-boundary activities between Hong Kong and the mainland can regain momentum in a progressive and orderly manner."

Interesting he made no mention of the current situation of the rapidly rising number of Covid-19 infections in both Hong Kong and China, or that both visitors and residents should get fully vaccinated to protect themselves when the onslaught returns.

While Hong Kong residents in general might fare better than their mainland counterparts health-wise when it comes to having exposure to the virus and its variants, isn't it not good timing to reopen soon? Or is it all about gaining political points for Lunar New Year... but then these family reunions will lead to an even greater spike in infections?

Doesn't seem like anyone is thinking this out clearly and is just racing towards the goal of opening up without realising the possible outcomes...