HONG Kong’s leader said yesterday the city will reopen its borders with mainland China by mid-January despite surging levels of Covid-19 infections following Beijing’s move to ease pandemic restrictions, United Press International reported.

Speaking at a news conference upon returning from the Chinese capital, Hong Kong chief executive John Lee said authorities aim to fully reopen all entry points between the two sides in a gradual and orderly manner.

He said the actual date for easing the curbs was up to the central government to decide.

I can now announce that the much-awaited reopening of the border with the mainland can now be achieved, South China Morning Post reported Lee as saying.

The city’s chief added that he has received the green light from Beijing saying, “We aim to discuss with authorities in Guangdong and Shenzhen plans to reopen the border and then seek the central government’s (final) approval.”

Hong Kong and Beijing shut their borders in early 2020 when Covid-19 first surfaced. They have remained closed since then.

Shenzhen last week agreed to increase the daily quota for Hong Kong arrivals from 2,500 to 2,800.

The planned reopening, however, is contingent on the pandemic situation. Hong Kong health authorities recorded more than 21,000 coronavirus infections yesterday, the second day in a row where cases topped the 20,000 mark. Some 39 related deaths were also logged.

Mainland China reported just 4,128 symptomatic infections but experts have suggested the actual number of new cases each day likely exceeds 1 million.

Lee met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Wednesday, telling authorities that Hong Kong residents earnestly hoped the border could be reopened and the government would continue to discuss the matter with central authorities.

Hong Kong’s total Covid-19 tally yesterday stood at 2.46 million cases and 11,412 related deaths. – Bernama, December 25, 2022.