Mainland confirms end to 'black code' Covid measure
Officials on Tuesday confirmed reports that the mainland will drop its "black code" Covid health declaration requirement for cross-border travellers from November 1. People with symptoms of an infectious disease should still notify the authorities, customs officers said. The DAB expressed support for the move, which it described as a “final step” in Hong Kong's return to normality following the pandemic. "It is very timely because I think Covid has already gone," said DAB lawmaker Kennedy Wong. "[The DAB] all welcome this step which will facilitate cross-border exchanges, particularly for the import and export sectors, for people who have to cross the border frequently and so forth." Wong, who is also a member of the National People's Congress, said Beijing's move will also alleviate long queues at border crossings.  "For example at the West Kowloon Station there’s always a bottleneck when we try to cross the border into mainland China. Now I think the bottleneck will be gone,” he said.  Another DAB legislator, Nixie Lam, said the party hopes that mainland authorities will continue to simplify border-crossing procedures. "In the future we are looking for more advanced technology-based ways of how we can cross our border… We are constantly asking our residents around different areas whether we should extend the [operating] time and make ports available 24 hours a day," Lam said.  "But we do bear in mind that that sort of situation or requirement will need mainland China customs' cooperation, so it’s not one way." Unionists and representatives from the business sector also expressed support for the mainland's move.  FTU chairman Kingsley Wong said his office had received more than 10 requests for help in the past month from elderly people who didn't know how to obtain the "black code".  Irons Sze, a delegate of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said ending the health declaration requirement sends a clear message to the international community that China is open for business again.