The Chinese government announced on Thursday that it will reopen its border with aging Kong on January 8, nearly three years after it was largely shut in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Up to 60,000 Hong Kong residents will be able to cross the border into the mainland as a gradual reopening of border control points begins, Hong Kong leader John Lee told media on Thursday following an announcement from Beijing.

The shift would eliminate what has been a mandatory quarantine for travelers from Hong Kong to the mainland. All travelers will be required to test negative for COVID-19 via a PCR test within 48 hours of crossing, and passenger quotas apply to travel in both directions.

The announced reopening falls on the same day China will drop quarantine requirements for international arrivals and scrap a number of COVID-19 restrictions on airlines in place since the start of the pandemic.