Beijing’s long-awaited easing of coronavirus precautions has sparked hopes that Hong Kong may soon be able to fully reopen its border with mainland China, as well as do away with traveller entry restrictions, the city’s business leaders and health experts have said.

Commerce sector lawmaker Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, also a member of the key decision-making body the Executive Council, appealed to the government on Wednesday to restart discussions on reopening the city’s border with the mainland, saying Beijing’s move had offered some light at the end of the tunnel.

“It has to be a step-by-step procedure, so I don’t think we should expect a quarantine-free entry to the mainland like tomorrow. But if we do everything right, I hope we can see that maybe early next year,” he said.

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China further eases pandemic restrictions in latest step towards reopening after zero-Covid

China further eases pandemic restrictions in latest step towards reopening after zero-Covid

Lam also asked the government to first talk to mainland authorities about increasing the quarantine hotel quota from 1,000 to 2,000 or more a day by the end of the year to make business and family visits easier.

The mainland moved a step closer to reopening as authorities announced that people with mild or asymptomatic Covid-19 infections could isolate at home for seven days instead of in a quarantine centre under new nationwide instructions.

Their close contacts will also be able to quarantine at home for five days, instead of the earlier requirement to spend eight days in isolation, first at a special centre and then at home, according to the State Council Prevention and Control Mechanism.

The mainland will also expand the use of rapid antigen tests instead of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening. Now PCR tests will only be used for people in high-risk areas and occupations, with testing for others only on a voluntary basis.