China, Hong Kong scrap cross-border travel quota, COVID test

February 10, 2023 The Associated Press Article, News
FILE - Travelers wearing face masks with their luggage head to the immigration counter at the departure hall at Lok Ma Chau station following the reopening of crossing border with mainland China, in Hong Kong, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. Hong Kong authorities announced Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, that they will lift a quota on the number of cross-border travelers with China and scrap mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing requirements as both places seek to drive economic growth. (AP Photo/Bertha Wang, File)

HONG KONG — Travel between Hong Kong and China will no longer require COVID-19 PCR tests nor be held to a daily limit, authorities announced Friday, as both places seek to drive economic growth. 

Hong Kong’s tourism industry has suffered since 2019 after months of political strife that at times turned into violent clashes between protesters and police, as well as harsh entry restrictions implemented during the pandemic. 

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The announcement came a day after Lee unveiled a tourism campaign aimed at attracting travelers to Hong Kong that includes 500,000 free air tickets for tourists to visit the city. 

China had already eased travel restrictions with Hong Kong on Jan. 8, dropping a mandatory quarantine period required for travelers entering the mainland. However, the number of travelers entering the mainland from Hong Kong via land checkpoints was limited to 50,000 a day.