EMIC

A Chinese neighbour who job it is to escort school children across the Louhu border, has mentioned they should be opening on (by) May 18th.

Also mentioned that people entering HK from China who have been in China for 14+ days will not have to be quarantined in HK, and anyone who has been in HK for 21 days will not need to be quarantined on arrival in China.

If correct, this is designed to allow free movement again between HK / China, but only for those who have been in either country for 14 / 21 days, and presumably if your travel is just between HK/China it will effectively allow daily crossings as before...

889

As we've mentioned in the other thread, HK's quarantine rules vis-ŕ-vis the Mainland run until May 7, though they could easily enough be extended.

I strongly suspect that the Mainland authorities would like to see the border re-open for all sorts of rather obvious reasons, so a re-opening sometime in May along the lines you mention would not be a surprise at all. HK-Mainland-Taiwan-Macau could quickly become something of a free travel zone virus-wise, and I think Beijing would be very happy to see these areas united in this fashion.

There remains,though, the question whether foreigners would again be able to enter China, or whether the re-opening would only apply to those holding Chinese passports, HRPs, etc.

No problem from the HK side, since the restriction on entry of non-residents does not apply to those who've spent the past 14 days in the Mainland.

EMIC

I do think that providing you have been in HK for 14+ days, regardless of passport, it would be a logical step to include them as being 'clean'!

I posted on the China forum about potential changes to the Visa process being in force from 27th April.

When I entered China in mid March from UK, the Doctor who supervised my 14 days, said last week that they were preparing new processes and health checks for the border crossings coming soon. Did not take too much notice, but things do seem to be starting to happening in the background.

garykung

Probably fake news, or at least inaccurate.

Based on today's CE briefing, all new cases in Hong Kong are imported (i.e. not local infection). The HKSAR Government is also extending the social distancing order for another 14 days until May 7.

Also - HKDSE will be commenced on April 24 after delay. Most of the exams will be done in the end of May except oral exams. So the streets will be more crowded than usual.

So May 18 re-opening is impossible. June maybe.

889

I have no crystal ball at hand, but it's a report that sounds entirely plausible to me.

The news of the past few days makes abundantly clear who is calling the shots here.

If re-opening the border in mid-May and creating some sort of free-travel zone fits Beijing's agenda, then HK will be re-opening the border, no questions asked.

EMIC

Really struggle to understand the logic in your comment culminating with 'impossible'

Reliant on people who I have known for years, is slightly different to fake / inaccurate.

Think 99% of HK/China people who need to travel across border will be anxious and keen for it to be open - second guessing powers that be is what's impossible.

But like we all hope the virus is sufficiently contained, lets try and have some positive outlook...................is that a possibility in your case?

garykung

My comment is not personal. But since I don't believe that. I have a legitimate reason to believe it is either fake or inaccurate.

The borders are not fully closed. The traveler is simply subject to additional quarantine.

Yes. My guess is the border would be fully re-opened in July, with June as a possibility.

Although denied by the HKSAR Government, the strike by medical workers has contributed the Mainland border closure. So objectively, if the Government is attempting to re-open the border, there will be another protest/strike, whatever you can imagine.

And this is not the time for it.

percysmith

Might even be 7 May Wuhan coronavirus outbreak — worries as it spread to HK & beyond

Not quite. I don't think Taiwan will accept Mainland/HK/Macau travellers in the foreseeable future even if the science and statistics support it.

EMIC

If you want to know what genuine 'fake / inaccurate' news is like, just listen to the diatribe from DT at daily press conferences.

I think that most people would understand that the border crossing being 'open' constitutes a semblance of free movement once crossed - not the extremely restrictive option of 14 days enforced quarantine.

The 'protesters' egging on the medical workers to strike was actually a positive move, and sped up the gradual closure of the borders when C-19 was rampant in China and HK was relatively free / in the early stages. Now the table is turned, any repeat of demonstrations against the border opening by medical or others, would be ironic, but nothing else.

garykung

We don't need to argue no more. We just have to see if the borders are going to be re-opened near May 18.

Isochronous

The longer the border stays shut, the better for HK.

889

This is not the time for all sorts of things to happen that are nonetheless happening.

Re-opening the border will be a political decision. When the word comes down from Beijing to open it again, Hong Kong's only possible response will be, "How wide?"

There are some prominent people in Hong Kong who are very sensitive to the winds blowing from the north. When they start making soothing noises about re-opening the border, you'll know the announcement is not far off.

moondog

What leads you to this conclusion?

percysmith

TBH, we've little excuse not to open the border on the basis that China's supposedly lying.

China's gonna get showed up by allowing this - either, it vets like crazy who comes southbound, or we report them afterwards when they become symptomatic in HK. The former will keep HK safe, the latter will cause another loss of face for the motherland.

889

Here's a report that China is working with Singapore and S Korea etc to set up a "fast track" entry channel for business travellers.

Coronavirus: China to ease entry ban on foreigners with South Korea 'fast track', East Asia News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Not exactly the HK situation, but a strong sign that China is heading towards loosening the entry restrictions in some fashion.