Shenzhen will increase the entry quota for Hong Kong travelers to 2,000 from today, after the mainland on Wednesday announced 10 new measures to ease Covid-19 restrictions.
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Those who wish to travel to Shenzhen have to secure a quota of the city's centralized quarantine facilities before crossing the border.
The quota had early last month been reduced from 1,500 to 1,000 when infections surged in Guangdong province.
Hong Kong's sole delegate at the National People's Congress Standing Committee Tam Yiu-chung hopes quarantine-free cross-border travel could be realized by the Lunar New Year on January 22.
"Many people wish to travel [to the mainland] to visit relatives or go sightseeing. Hopefully borders reopen soon," Tam said, adding he is confident that the mainland will continue easing restrictions.
"But a full resumption of cross-border travel is unlikely. The mainland will probably shorten the quarantine period for arrivals, ease its requirement for travelers or increase the entry quota."
Tam also said the reverse quarantine plan - where Hongkongers undergo quarantine before traveling - still has many unsolved technical issues.
But lawmaker Ben Chan Han-pan said the plan should not be ruled out. However, if there are other ways to get to the mainland, then it might not have to implemented.
Chan added that mainland officials are busy handling local outbreaks and are unavailable to weigh in on such an arrangement.
He urged the Hong Kong government to seek a further increase of quarantine quotas in Shenzhen to as many as 3,000, as well as mainland authorities' permission to allow travelers to observe home quarantine upon arrival.
Former Executive Council convener Bernard Charnwut Chan said the mainland's relaxed measures have sent a positive message to Hong Kong's business sector. And if there is no severe rebound this winter, restrictions may be further relaxed and travels could return to normal early next year.
He also said Hong Kong's medical system was not overwhelmed after social distancing measures were eased. Therefore, the city could consider further lifting restrictions.
Allen Shi Lop-tak, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said the mainland's relaxation will help Hong Kong companies reduce losses caused by the suspension of factories.
Meanwhile, University of Hong Kong virologist Jin Dong-yan said the mainland referred to Hong Kong's measures when relaxing restrictions, such as allowing home quarantine for Covid patients.
He said Hong Kong could further lift restrictions and implement a "0+0" strategy to set another example for the mainland.
Jin also said the mainland will likely see a large-scale outbreak, but authorities could handle Covid as seasonal flu.Meanwhile, Beijing started cautiously on the road toward normalcy, with a decrease in the number of testing stands and the opening of shopping centers and businesses.
