Easing of boundary controls mulled

September 29, 2020

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:

Having regard to the Mainland situation, I'm sure you know that the Mainland has put this virus under very good control. There has not been a local confirmed case for a very long period. The only cases now registered every day are imported cases. 

So there is this scientific basis for us to relax the boundary controls between Hong Kong and the Mainland. But given the volume involved and also the Hong Kong situation where we still have some risks, we should do it in a gradual and orderly manner. 

In dealing with a gradual and orderly manner, then naturally there is an expectation that Hong Kong residents now residing in the Mainland should be given earlier priority to return to Hong Kong without being subject to the 14-day mandatory quarantine arrangement, provided that they can show a negative test (result) of COVID-19. 
 
What I mentioned just now that we are in advanced internal discussions is to find a way to facilitate such Hong Kong residents coming back. Whether this needs mutual agreement with Guangdong authorities, whether there will be a quota and how many control points we will allow (for) this arrangement - because at the moment, we only have the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point - all these will be sorted out in our internal discussions before we promulgate them for the public to know. 

But I can tell you that this is something that we are working very diligently on because I know that there is very strong desire among some of the Hong Kong people who want to be able to come back to see a doctor, to meet with relatives and to do other personal things that they have not been able to do for a very long time.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Relaxation of the boundary controls between Hong Kong and the Mainland may proceed in a gradual manner with due consideration given to the public health risks posed by COVID-19, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said today.

Mrs Lam made the statement ahead of the Executive Council meeting this morning.

“Having regard to the Mainland situation, I'm sure you know that the Mainland has put this virus under very good control. There has not been a local confirmed case for a very long period. The only cases now registered every day are imported cases.

“So there is this scientific basis for us to relax the boundary controls between Hong Kong and the Mainland. But given the volume involved and also the Hong Kong situation where we still have some risks, we should do it in a gradual and orderly manner.”

Mrs Lam emphasised that the Government is working hard on ways to fulfil the aspirations of certain Hong Kong people living on the Mainland to return to the city without being subject to the 14-day mandatory quarantine arrangement.

“We are in advanced internal discussions to find a way to facilitate such Hong Kong residents coming back.

“Whether this needs mutual agreement with Guangdong authorities, whether there will be a quota and how many control points we will allow (for) this arrangement - because at the moment, we only have the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point - all these will be sorted out in our internal discussions before we promulgate them for the public to know.

“But I can tell you that this is something that we are working very diligently on because I know that there is very strong desire among some of the Hong Kong people who want to be able to come back to see a doctor, to meet with relatives and to do other personal things that they have not been able to do for a very long time.”