Cheers as China-Hong Kong border reopens fully
STORY: Tens of thousands of travellers commuted between mainland China and Hong Kong on Monday (February 6).
That’s according to authorities.
It marked the first time in three years that all border checkpoints were reopened fully without health crisis restrictions, and many commemorated the moment.
China announced last week that cross border travel between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau would fully resume on Monday,
While scrapping the requirement for mandatory health tests before travelling.
Hong Kong’s railway network said around 22,000 passengers travelled through Lo Wu station by midday that day.
And dozens of people marked this event by sticking colourful Post-it notes on a red wall outside.
The Shenzhen checkpoint was decorated with hundreds of red lanterns and large red banners celebrating the resumption of travel.
Anthony Chen was one of the passengers:
“I’m so excited, I've been looking forward to it for three years, but I haven't been able to go back to my country to reunite with my family and now that the border is fully reopened, it's as convenient as ever.”
Prior to this move, Hong Kong was largely sealed off from the mainland to ward off contagion.
Arrivals faced a mandatory quarantine of up to three weeks.
The city eventually dropped most of its internal health restrictions in December.
