HONG KONG is in advanced discussions with Chinese officials about opening the border, according to Hong Kong's Sing Tao Daily, reports Bloomberg.
Experts from both sides are expected to soon hold a second meeting with a final decision on the resumption of travel imminent, Sing Tao reported, but gave no details on timing.
Discussions are now focused on whether Hong Kong could adopt a mainland-style health code system that would classify people green, yellow or red. Only those with a green pass would be cleared to travel to the mainland, according to the paper.
A quota for quarantine-free travel could be initially imposed, the paper said, adding officials were also considering a 'circuit-breaker' to immediately suspend the system in an emergency.
Limited border travel could resume as soon as the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2022, said Michael Tien, a pro-government politician in the city's Legislative Council and a Hong Kong deputy to China's National People's Congress.
Travel may first be limited to within neighbouring Guangdong province with a daily quota of perhaps a few hundred people, he said.
Even the partial resumption of cross-border travel would be a major economic boost for Hong Kong, which has sought to kickstart cross-border travel for months with little success as Beijing pursued a so-called 'Covid Zero' strategy that prioritised containment over opening up.
SeaNews Turkey
Experts from both sides are expected to soon hold a second meeting with a final decision on the resumption of travel imminent, Sing Tao reported, but gave no details on timing.
Discussions are now focused on whether Hong Kong could adopt a mainland-style health code system that would classify people green, yellow or red. Only those with a green pass would be cleared to travel to the mainland, according to the paper.
A quota for quarantine-free travel could be initially imposed, the paper said, adding officials were also considering a 'circuit-breaker' to immediately suspend the system in an emergency.
Limited border travel could resume as soon as the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2022, said Michael Tien, a pro-government politician in the city's Legislative Council and a Hong Kong deputy to China's National People's Congress.
Travel may first be limited to within neighbouring Guangdong province with a daily quota of perhaps a few hundred people, he said.
Even the partial resumption of cross-border travel would be a major economic boost for Hong Kong, which has sought to kickstart cross-border travel for months with little success as Beijing pursued a so-called 'Covid Zero' strategy that prioritised containment over opening up.
SeaNews Turkey