Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (second right) explains to government officials his guiding principles on achieving progressive, orderly and comprehensive normal travel with the Chinese mainland during a meeting on Dec 25, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)
HONG KONG – The Coordination Group on Resumption of Normal Travel convened its first meeting on Sunday to discuss a proposal for the progressive, orderly and comprehensive resumption of normal travel with the Chinese mainland.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attended the start of the meeting to explain to officials present his guiding principles on achieving progressive, orderly and comprehensive normal travel, according to a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government statement.
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, the coordination group’s leader, then convened the meeting to discuss in detail with attending officials the necessary preparations, including boundary control points’ operation, transportation arrangements and risk management
“All sectors of society are eagerly looking forward to early resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the mainland,” Lee was quoted as saying in the statement.
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“I am grateful to colleagues for acting swiftly during the holidays to hold a meeting under the Coordination Group on Resumption of Normal Travel to discuss in detail the preparations on all fronts for resuming normal travel, so as to ensure a well-formulated proposal in place.”
Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, the coordination group’s leader, then convened the meeting to discuss in detail with attending officials the necessary preparations, including boundary control points’ operation, transportation arrangements and risk management.
He stressed that the team must race against time to prepare for the resumption of normal travel by adopting a two-pronged approach.
“We need to formulate a sound proposal on such resumption as soon as practicable. At the same time, we need to maintain close liaison with the relevant authorities at the central level, as well as from Guangdong province and Shenzhen municipality, and submit the proposal to the central government for approval after reaching a consensus with them,” Chan said.
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“The target is to resume normal travel by mid-January next year, such that various types of cross-boundary activities between Hong Kong and the mainland can regain momentum in a progressive and orderly manner,” he added.
Policy bureaus will sort out the issues on the resumption of normal travel and will make the necessary plans.
The coordination group will meet in the days ahead to put forward a well-formulated proposal on travel resumption and gear up for its implementation, the HKSAR government added.
Returning from Beijing on Saturday after conducting his reporting of work to state leaders, the Chief Executive announced that the central government agreed to a progressive, orderly and comprehensive resumption of normal travel between the HKSAR and the mainland.
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To forge ahead with the work, the HKSAR government set up the Coordination Group on Resumption of Normal Travel, which is led by the Chief Secretary and comprises members from all 15 policy bureaus.