Confirmed! Border-reopening Between HK & Mainland by Mid-January

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On December 24，2022，after finishing his four-day debut duty visit to Beijing, Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee said that the city is to reopen its border with the mainland by mid-January. 

"The central government has agreed to the gradual full reopening of the border" he told reporters upon arrival at the airport, adding that a coordination group was established to communicate with mainland authorities on the issue.

On December 25, 2022, Hong Kong government's coordination group for border-opening with the mainland held its first meeting. The coordination group, including Hong Kong's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, and Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs in Hong Kong.

Members from this group are set to discuss details with the National Health Commission, as well as the local government of Guangdong Province and the city of Shenzhen. The plan of reopening the border will also be submitted to the central government for approval, according to Hong Kong media.

Meanwhile, the city's business group called the opening "the biggest Christmas gift, "believing it will help the small businesses of the city. They suggested that full preparations be made for normal travel in order to be ready for a large flow of people once travel resumes.

"I believe for small and medium sized business in Hong Kong, 2023 is a year to restart," one source from the Hong Kong Commerce and Industry Association said. He believes that tourism, hotel and catering business will be among the first to recover. It is estimated that the retail and commercial industry will witness at least a 50 percent growth.

Plus, the sleepy global economy has made small businesses in Hong Kong more eager to seek opportunities from the mainland, he added.