HK-Macau travel bubble talks resume

The idea is to add Hong Kong to measures already established between Macau and mainland China. 

Hong Kong.- Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, has said talks have been resumed with Macau and mainland China to gradually open travel.

Lam told local media: “It is time for us to take a very pragmatic approach to allow people flow, whether between Hong Kong and the mainland, or Hong Kong and Macau, and Hong Kong with other overseas places.” 

Initially, the aim is to find a way for Hong Kong residents currently living in the other destinations to return home, as the region continues to see a decline in locally transmitted cases of Covid-19. The current restrictions for travelling to and from Hong Kong require a 14-day quarantine.  

Negotiations came to a halt in July due to a new wave of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong.  

Zhuhai and Guangdong resumed travel to Macau through the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) in August, and in late September the system returned to the rest of mainland China.  

The easing of restrictions with Hong Kong would be good news for Macau casino operators, as about 10 per cent of visitors come from the city.