‘First good news of 2023’: families, friends reunite as Hong Kong-mainland China border reopens after 3 years of coronavirus curbs
- Provisional figures show total of 45,558 people crossed border by Sunday evening at four land ports and one ferry terminal, including 33,132 mainland-bound travellers
- City leader John Lee reveals January 20 has become popular date for Hongkongers looking to head north in time for Lunar New Year holiday
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Emotional reunion for Hong Kong-mainland couple as border reopens
Around 25,000 city residents registered online to be the first to travel north on the scheme’s launch day, with most crossing via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line checkpoint.
Provisional immigration figures showed a total of 45,558 people as of 8pm had crossed the border going either direction at four land ports and one ferry terminal, 33,132 of whom were bound for the mainland.
The Lok Ma Chau checkpoint, which was expected to handle most of each day’s quota, recorded 21,484 cross-border travellers going in either direction over the same period.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said after a visit to the checkpoint that the launch of quarantine-free travel had been smooth and orderly, adding authorities on both sides could consider lifting their daily quotas.
