China to ease travel restrictions with Hong Kong from December

A limited number of daily visitors will be able to enter mainland China from Hong Kong without undergoing quarantine.

China.- The South China Morning Post newspaper has reported that two unidentified China sources have confirmed the opening of borders between China and Hong Kong from December. According to the sources, under a test programme, one hundred people per day will be allowed to enter from Hong Kong without undergoing quarantine.

The reopening of the border between Hong Kong and China could be a crucial step for Macau as Hong Kong has historically accounted for 15 per cent to 20 per cent of Macau’s total gaming revenue and allowing travel without isolation could help a recovery.

Hong Kong and mainland China together account for approximately 90 per cent of Macau’s GGR. The border will not be further opened to international travel outside the Greater China region in the short term.

A few days ago, Ho Iat Seng, Macau’s chief executive, has said the government is still negotiating with mainland China on the resumption of the e-visa programme. He said the removal of travel barriers with Hong Kong and mainland China may happen next year. However, it will take more time to resume travel for foreign nationals.

Benjamin Toh Hup Hock, chief financial officer (CFO) at SJM Holdings Ltd, said Macau’s GGR could reach 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels if the city eases travel restrictions with Hong Kong in the coming months.

However, he said it would be difficult to see a return of international customers before 2022 due to the low rate of vaccination against Covid-19 when compared to cities like Singapore. At last count, only 55.8 per cent of Macau’s population has been fully vaccinated.