First country Hong Kong will reopen its borders to

Hong Kong will officially begin reopening its borders with the rest of the world, starting with mainland China.

Quarantine-free travel will be permitted for up to 1-thousand residents daily, between the city and neighbouring province, with global borders expected to open up in the second quarter of 2022.

Speaking at the government’s weekly briefing, Chief Executive Carrie Lam says the top priority is gradually resuming cross-border travel between Hong Kong and the mainland for business and other urgent needs.

The details of the quarantine-free arrangement will be reliant on the number of Covid-19 cases that pop up in the Guang-dong province, but Lam says the requirements won’t be “too harsh”.

Travelers will be required to have a mainland phone number to ensure authorities can reach them for contact tracing requirements.

Reports suggest the arrangement will have a circuit-breaking system, meaning travel will be suspended if there is a surge in positive covid-19 cases in either location.