Officials on Tuesday (Oct. 31) verified rumors that starting on Nov. 1, cross-border passengers will no longer need to submit a "black code" COVID health statement.
People with symptoms of an infectious disease should still notify the authorities, customs officers said.
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) expressed support for the move, which it described as a "final step" in HK's return to normality following the pandemic.
"It is very timely because I think Covid has already gone," said DAB lawmaker Kennedy Wong.
"The DAB all welcome this step which will facilitate cross-border exchanges, particularly for the import and export sectors, for people who have to cross the border frequently and so forth."
Wong, who is also a member of the National People's Congress, said Beijing's move will also alleviate long queues at border crossings.
"For example, at the West Kowloon Station, there's always a bottleneck when we try to cross the border into mainland China. Now I think the bottleneck will be gone," he said.
Another DAB legislator, Nixie Lam, said the party hopes that mainland authorities will continue to simplify border-crossing procedures.
"In the future, we are looking for more advanced technology-based ways of how we can cross our border… We are constantly asking our residents around different areas whether we should extend the operating time and make ports available 24 hours a day," Lam said.
"But we do bear in mind that that sort of situation or requirement will need mainland China customs' cooperation, so it's not one way," Lam added.
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