The Chinese government announced on Thursday that it would open the border with Hong Kong on January 8 - almost three years after severe restrictions were placed on its crossing in an attempt to contain the spread of Covid-19..

Up to 60,000 Hong Kong residents will now be able to cross the border to the mainland daily, Hong Kong leader John Lee said after a statement from Beijing.

The quota includes 50,000 people to pass through the three ground checkpoints, with the remaining 10,000 for people traveling through the Hong Kong International Airport, two ferry piers and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge..

The restriction does not apply to Hong Kong residents returning to Hong Kong from the mainland, nor to Mainland Chinese citizens returning to the mainland from Hong Kong..

Mandatory quarantine for travelers from Hong Kong to mainland lifted. However, all travelers will be required to test negative for coronavirus within 48 hours of crossing the border, and passenger quotas apply for travel in both directions..

In addition to testing, some trips will also require pre-booking.

On January 8, China will also lift quarantine requirements for international arrivals and lift a number of Covid restrictions on airlines that have been in place since the start of the pandemic..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Flights from Hong Kong and neighboring Macau to mainland China will be resumed and passenger capacity restrictions lifted, according to a statement from the State Council of China.;

the number of flights will increase " Land and sea border crossings between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau will also be reopened "

China will also resume issuing tourist and business visas to Mainland Chinese traveling to Hong Kong..

The changes come as China's authorities dramatically eased lockdown restrictions under the pressure of mass protests.. However, it turned out to be unprepared for a massive increase in infections.. Read more about this in the article by Natalia Butyrskaya “Morgues are full, the economy is falling: what is happening because of the covid epidemic in China”.