Beijing announced on Thursday that starting from this Sunday 8 January 2023, entry into mainland China from Macau will no longer require nucleic acid testing if the traveller has not visited a foreign country or other foreign region in the previous seven days.
The announcement was made by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, which also revealed an easing of restrictions for those entering the mainland from Hong Kong.
Starting 8 January, people heading to the mainland from Hong Kong will be allowed entry the country upon presentation of a negative nucleic acid test (NAT) result obtained within the previous 48 hours, and no more NATs will be required after entry. Beijing also confirmed it will resume the processing of mainland residents for travel to Hong Kong on business visas.
While Macau still requires a negative NAT test result obtained with 72 hours for entry from the mainland, there is a high probability that this measure will be adjusted as well given Macau’s pandemic prevention policy is in line with that of China.
In addition, mainland China also announced that it will resume passenger flights to and from Hong Kong and Macau, lift the restriction on the passenger capacity of flights from Hong Kong and Macau to the mainland, and gradually increase the number of flights in an orderly manner.
It was also revealed that the processing of inbound flights to Hong Kong and Macau airports will be simplified to improve the efficiency of airport operations.
