Traveling Between Hong Kong and Mainland China Resumes Today

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) recently announced that with a consensus reached after deliberation and coordination with the Central Government, the Guangdong Provincial Government, and the Shenzhen Municipal Government, and upon obtaining approval from the Central Government, the normal travel of persons between Hong Kong and the Mainland will be resumed in an orderly manner on January 8, 2023.

The first-phase resumption will cover the Hong Kong International Airport (flights between Hong Kong and the Mainland), the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point that are in operation.

As well as the reopened Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, the China Ferry Terminal, Man Kam To Control Point and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line/Futian Control Point.

The HKSAR Government has ensured transportation arrangements are in place and prescribed daily numbers of persons who can pass through specific boundary control points (BCPs) and require the persons concerned to make bookings online before travel.

Also, persons traveling between Hong Kong and the Mainland will be required to undergo a nucleic acid test within 48 hours with a negative result obtained before traveling.

The HKSAR Government confirmed it would review the overall implementation of the first stage as soon as possible to summarise the experience gained and maintain liaison with relevant Mainland authorities on the arrangements of any subsequent phase.

Such arrangements include covering more BCPs, raising the prescribed daily numbers of persons who can pass through relevant BCPs as appropriate, and allowing cross-boundary students to travel every day between the Mainland and Hong Kong after the Chinese New Year for face-to-face classes.

The full, unedited January 5, 2023, announcement is posted at this HKSAR link.

Previously, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that beginning January 5, 2023, there are new requirements for air passengers two years of age and older traveling to the U.S. from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, and those traveling from Seoul, Toronto, and Vancouver who have been in China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past ten days.

Regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, these passengers must show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than two days before their flight departs.

And those who had COVID-19 in the 90 days before their travel to the U.S. can instead show documentation of recovery from a coronavirus infection.

Additionally, the CDC suggests various travel vaccinations before visiting China.

These vaccines are available at certified clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.

Furthermore, the U.S. Department of State issued an advisory on December 23, 2022, that stated reconsider travel to the People’s Republic of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau, due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Any U.S. Citizen in China can obtain local assistance at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, located at No. 55 An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600, China.