BREAKING

Border between Hong Kong and Mainland China to reopen gradually

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Dec 2022 20:42

The border has been closed for more than three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the years of stagnation have had a heavy toll on the special administrative region.

Beijing Gives Green Light to Open Border With Hong Kong - Chief Execut

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said on Saturday that the city plans to gradually reopen its borders with mainland China after Beijing formally issued the green light.

"I can now announce that the much-awaited reopening of the border with the mainland can now be achieved," Lee was quoted by the South China Morning Post as saying. "We aim to discuss with authorities in Guangdong and Shenzhen plans to reopen the border and then seek the central government’s [final] approval."

He further expressed hope that a proposal to reopen the border would be finalized by mid-january.

The border has been closed for more than three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the years of stagnation have had a heavy toll on the special administrative region.

Preparations are reportedly underway to resume train service operations between Hong Kong and Guangzhou from January.

John Lee traveled to mainland China on Wednesday for a four-day official visit.

While there, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials to discuss the administration's progress over the past six months and to negotiate the reopening of the border.

President Xi Jinping meets on Friday with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu, who is on a visit to Beijing. LI TAO/XINHUA pic.twitter.com/FrSRsdUqZM
— 会做饭的萨摩耶 (@NicoleWang1222) December 24, 2022

In recent times, Western media has been exaggerating the situation in the country after China adjusted its epidemic control strategy with a sheer focus on preventing severe cases, claiming that Beijing has been facing a shortage of medical supplies and personnel.

Yesterday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a briefing that China has sufficient medical supplies, and the situation is under control with regard to the epidemic.

She said that the government has stuck to the concept of putting people and life first since the COVID-19 outbreak and that Beijing formulated epidemic prevention policies that are based on the nation's situation and in line with the interests of the majority of the people.

She further said that the policies in question have effectively protected the lives and health of the people when COVID-19 was at its highest level of threat.

Giving the public some good news, Mao underlined that vaccination rates continue to increase, the treatment capacity continues to improve, the production capacity of medical supplies continues to expand, and overall supply is sufficient.

Currently, she revealed, more than 90% of the Chinese population had been fully vaccinated by early December, with more than 86.6% of people aged above 60 and 66.4% of those above 80 completing their vaccinations.