hk china cross border travel

China announces reopening of border with Hong Kong

The announcement comes after three years of border controls that have isolated the financial hub from the Chinese mainland.

China has announced it will open its border with Hong Kong on Sunday, ending three years of pandemic restrictions that have isolated the financial hub from the Chinese mainland.

Hong Kong residents travelling to the Chinese mainland will no longer have to quarantine or undergo a COVID-19 test after they arrive as part of moves to resume cross-border travel in a “gradual and orderly” way, China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said in a statement on Thursday.

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Visitors will still have to provide a negative result from a COVID test taken within 48 hours before travelling and complete a health declaration.

China will also resume issuing travel and business visas for mainland residents to travel to Hong Kong.

More than 236 million trips a year were made across the border before the pandemic, according to government data.

The moves come after Beijing said it would reopen its international borders and scrap mandatory quarantine from January 8.

The announcement is the latest step by China to unwind its controversial “zero-COVID” policy, which was credited with saving lives but inflicted gruelling social and economic costs.

Hong Kong, which followed a less stringent version of the “zero-COVID” strategy for much of the pandemic, dropped most of its restrictions in December, although masks are still mandatory in most settings.

China’s COVID infections have surged in recent weeks following the lifting of harsh restrictions such as lockdowns and mandatory quarantine. Health authorities have reported just a handful of deaths despite evidence from hospitals, morgues and crematoriums that fatalities have risen sharply across the country.

Some health experts have predicted the country could experience up to two million deaths due to the population’s lack of natural immunity and patchy vaccine coverage among the elderly.

Countries including France, India, Japan, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States have introduced COVID tests and other measures for travellers from China amid concerns that surging cases could lead to the emergence of new and more dangerous variants.

China has criticised the measures as “unacceptable” and lacking a scientific basis.

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China-HK quarantine-free cross-border travel resumes after three years

Passengers travelling will not be subject to quarantine but would need to provide a negative Covid-19 test result taken within 48 hours

Wang Zhan and Li Bingcun

China Daily

View all posts by Wang Zhan and Li Bingcun →

The first batch of visitors from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region cross to the Chiense mainland at Futian port in Shenzhen on Jan 8, 2022. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

January 9, 2023

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s four border control points at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan and China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui saw thousands of travellers converging in the early morning of Sunday to cross over to the mainland without the need to quarantine for the first time in three years.

Thousands were already waiting when the Lok Ma Chau point opened for service at 6:30 am and when the first batch of visitors from mainland crossed over to Hong Kong at Futian Port in Shenzhen, the two-way flow had firmly established that three years of separation was definitely a thing of the past now.

The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point opened on Sunday for the first time since February 2020.

The passengers will not be subject to quarantine, but need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours

Starting Sunday, 60,000 people a day will be allowed to travel each way between Hong Kong and the mainland via seven border ports.

The passengers will not be subject to quarantine, but need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours.

After inspecting the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point Sunday morning, John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said the first day of the border reopening was smooth, safe and orderly.

The HKSAR government has said a daily quota of 60,000 Hong Kong residents are allowed to enter the mainland, in which 50,000 of them are allocated at the three land control points – Shenzhen Bay, Man Kam To and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line. The remaining 10,000 quota is available through ferry terminals, the Hong Kong International Airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks with travelers at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line as quarantine-free travel between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese mainland resumed on Jan 8, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Lee said residents made most of their reservations to visit the mainland on Jan 20, followed by Jan 19 and Jan 21 – the three days preceding the Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan 22 this year. As of early Sunday morning, there were still about 1,000 booking slots available for Jan 20.

In terms of the number of bookings, the most popular checkpoint was the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point, while Shenzhen Bay Port had most of its booking slots filled up, Lee said.

Wang Pengjun, a Shanghai resident working in Hong Kong, did not return to the mainland for nearly three years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He took the first metro train to Lok Ma Chau Station early Sunday morning, looking forward to getting reunited with his family.

Wang appreciated the efforts made by the HKSAR government and the mainland authorities, which he said fulfilled people’s long-awaited wishes.

Cheung Chi-keung, head of cross-boundary operations at MTR Corporation, said up to 9,000 commuters had crossed over to the mainland via Lok Ma Chau by 11am on Sunday, using the MTR East Rail Line.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu inspects the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line/ Futian Control Point as quarantine-free tarvel between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese mainland resumed Jan 8, 2023. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

He said operations at the station and on the East Rail Line had been smooth on Sunday morning, as the company had added staff and strengthened services to cope with the increased traffic.

Chris Tang Ping-keung told reporters at the Shenzhen Bay Port that as of 10 am of Sunday, about 7000 people left Hong Kong for the mainland, including 5000 crossed the border via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and 2000 via the Shenzhen Bay Port.

A daily quota of 50,000 at the three land control points is also applied to mainland residents heading to Hong Kong. Shenzhen’s Shekou port and Fuyong Ferry Terminal are controlled through ticketing mechanism, while land control points arrange the number of daily outbound passengers through the reservation system.

Fung, who only gave his surname, a Hong Kong resident working in Shenzhen, took a taxi to the Futian Control Point and waited in line to cross the border. He said he was excited and would stay longer in Hong Kong this time as he had not seen his family for nearly three years.

The Man Kam To checkpoint reopened at 7am on Sunday. Mainland staff at the port prepared for travelers 500 gift bags that contained masks, disinfectants, and cards with information on transportation available nearby. The mainland authorities also set up a signature wall for travelers who wanted to write their views about the resumption of normal travel.

Long queues were also seen at the China Ferry Terminal. A spokesperson for Chu Kong Shipping Company said about 100 cross-boundary ferry tickets had been sold by Saturday and Sunday morning, with north-bound passengers being the majority.

The first batch of visitors from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region cross to the Chinese mainland at Futian port in Shenzhen on Jan 8, 2022. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Shenzhen and Hong Kong will review the first phase of border reopening in a week. On the basis of consensus reached by both sides, arrangement of the second phase will be announced.

From 9 am on Friday, mainland residents were able to make reservations for entering Hong Kong through the online booking system operated by the Shenzhen authorities. Each reservation allowed for up to four travellers.

Separately at 6 pm on Thursday, Hong Kong opened its booking system for residents entering the mainland.

With Xinhua inputs

Hong Kong welcomes 3.9 million visitors in July, 24% less than before Covid-19 pandemic

H ong Kong welcomed over 3.9 million visitors in July, according to provisional figures, a 9 per cent increase compared to same month last year.

Mainland China continued to be the city’s largest source market, with 80 per cent of visitor arrivals from across the border, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced on Thursday.

The city’s tourism has been slow to recover since the government lifted all Covid-19 restrictions in early 2023. In the first seven months of 2024, Hong Kong saw a total of 25 million arrivals, a 52 per cent increase compared to the same period of 2023.

However, the industry has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels, with July seeing a 24 per cent decrease in visitors compared to July 2019, when the city was wracked with protests.

The city saw a total of 3.1 million travellers from mainland China in July, 75 per cent of the number of mainland Chinese visiting in July 2019.

Separately, over 781,000 visitors from foreign countries, Taiwan and Macau visited Hong Kong in July, 75 per cent of the number in July 2019.

Taiwan in late June upgraded the self-ruled island’s travel alert, urging its citizens to “avoid unnecessary travel” to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, citing personal safety risks following the enactment of multiple security laws and a recent update to China’s judicial guidelines that allows the death penalty for advocating Taiwan independence.

HKTB has not published updated figures of visitors based on their origin as of Friday.

Visitors satisfied with drone shows

The government has allocated more resources to “soft-sell” the city and to boost tourism in 2024. Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced a HK$1.1 billion push to promote mega events and boost tourism in Hong Kong, with HKTB hosting firework displays and drone shows every month against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour.

HKTB hosted a drone show featuring the Chau Bun Festival in May and another drone show showcasing the Dragon Boat Festival in June.

HKTB said in a statement on Thursday that more than 90 per cent of the tourists it surveyed agreed that the drone shows had enhanced their experience of visiting Hong Kong, and more than 95 per cent said they would recommend it to their friends and relatives.

The body did not reveal sample size of the survey.

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Cross Boundary Travel

Fluid grids, land-based cross boundary transport.

There are nine land crossings in Hong Kong.  Six of them (Shenzhen Bay Port, Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Heung Yuen Wai) are road-based land crossings, while the other three (Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station) are rail-based. 

Ferry Services to Macau and the Mainland Ports

Find out a list of companies providing ferry services between Hong Kong, Macau and the Mainland here. Hotlines, boarding and destination terminals and links to the companies are featured. A link to the website on cross boundary ferry services is also available which allows you to acquire the real-time berthing information of HK-Macao and HK-Mainland China passenger vessels at ease.

Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles

The Scheme allows eligible Hong Kong private cars to travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) without the need to obtain regular quotas.  For details, please visit the theme page.

Cross-boundary Driving

Find out the general requirements for driving across the boundary and the steps one should take for applying the required licences and permits.

Self-drive to Guangdong Province

This article introduce the application procedures of the “Ad Hoc Quota Trial Scheme for Cross Boundary Private Car” and the related travel information and points to note.

Application for Closed Road Permits for access to boundary control points

You need a permit to drive in restricted areas including control points between Hong Kong and the Mainland like Lok Ma Chau, Huanggang or Shenzhen Bay Port. Download the application form here for Closed Road Permits to access the boundary control points.

Online Application for Ad Hoc Quotas for Cross Boundary Private Cars

You can experience self-driving to the Guangdong Province via the Shenzhen Bay Port by submitting application anytime with the online service provided by the Transport Department.

Application for a Mainland Driving Licence

Holder of a valid Hong Kong full driving licence can apply for a Mainland driving licence for small vehicle and motorcycle. Application must be made in person in one of the Vehicle Administration Office in Guangdong. More application details are available here.

New Application for International Circulation Permit and Closed Road Permit for Cross Boundary Vehicles (Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quotas)

Hzmb macao port park-and-ride scheme.

You can submit applications with the online service provided by the Transport Department for the Closed Road Permit for the HZMB Macao Port Park-and-Ride Scheme or make an appointment for submitting CRP application at the Cross Boundary Unit of the Transport Department.

Online Application for Regular Quota for Hong Kong Private Cars to Macao

You can submit applications with online service provided by the Transport Department for regular quota for Hong Kong private cars to Macao.

New Application for Closed Road Permit for Cross Boundary Vehicles (Regular Quota for Hong Kong Private Cars to Macao)

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Shenzhen Hong Kong Border Crossing 2024/2025

No matter you are on vacation, on business, for an international conference, or going to visit your friends or family, to go from Shenzhen to Hong Kong and vice versa, you need to go through the border between the China's mainland and Hong Kong in Shenzhen. So where are the ports? Which is the best port for foreign travelers and business people? How to go through the custom clearance? How to transfer to the checkpoints to and from the city downtown and airport? What to pay attention to…? Check the useful information at below, and you will know everything you need about Shenzhen Hong Kong border crossing!

Top 5 Ways of Shenzhen Hong Kong Border Crossing

There are altogether 10 checkpoints in Shenzhen and 1 in Hong Kong, among which Luohu Port (Lo Wu Port), Huanggang Port, Shenzhen Wan Port, Futian Port, Shekou Port and Hong Kong West Kowloon Terminus are more used for foreign travelers. For traveling groups by cross-border coach, they usually go through Shenzhen Wan Port. Luohu and Futian are most used with convenient connection by metro and MTR system, Huanggang is the only one serving 24 hours a day, Shekou is suitable to go by cruise, and West Kowloon Terminus is for you to take bullet train directly to/from Hong Kong downtown and offers convenient inspection and clearance at one site. Check the following to choose the most suitable one for you!

Top 1 - Luohu to Hong Kong

Luohu Port (罗湖口岸) (Lo Wu Port) is the most used border checkpoint for people going between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The seamless connection of Shenzhen Metro and Hong Kong MTR makes Luohu Port a top consideration for both domestic and foreign people. And that means and truly there always many and many people queuing in the hall for border crossing either from Hong Kong or from Shenzhen.

• Opening Hour: 06:30-24:00;
• Clearance Time: 10-15 minutes
• Transportation: Shenzhen Metro , Hong Kong MTR

◆ Detailed Steps by Metro + MTR (about 1.5 hours):

1. Take Shenzhen Metro Line 1 to Luohu Station;

2. Enter the customs building to go through all the clearance procedures;

3. Walk through the bridge path, and you will be on the side of Hong Kong;

4. Follow the signs to Lo Wu Station for taking Hong Kong MTR East Railway Line to Hong Kong Hung Hum Railway Station in downtown for about 50 minutes. Then, you can transfer to other MTR lines to your ideal places or Hong Kong International Airport.

Futian to Hong Kong

Futian Port (福田口岸) is also frequently used and border crossing here is similar to that at Luohu, with the convenient direct linking of Shenzhen Metro and Hong Kong MTR.

• Opening Hour: 06:30-22:30;
• Clearance Time: within 10 minutes

1. Take Shenzhen Metro Line 4 to Futian Checkpoint Station;

4. Follow the signs to Lok Ma Chau Station on Hong Kong side for taking Hong Kong MTR East Railway Line to Hong Kong Hung Hum Railway Station in downtown for about 50 minutes. Then, you can transfer to other MTR lines to your ideal places or Hong Kong International Airport.

Recommended Shenzhen Tour:

>> 2 Days Shenzhen Short Stay Tour with All Essences >>

>> 3 Days Classic Shenzhen Tour

Top 2 - Huanggang to Hong Kong

Huanggang Port (皇岗口岸) is the only border checkpoint opening 24 hours a day in Shenzhen so far and a lot of cross-border buses between Shenzhen and Hong Kong go through this port. With the very long time on service, especially relatively less people at midnight, this port is a very good choice for people who are planning enjoying happy shopping hours and days in Hong Kong.

• Opening Hour: 00:00-24:00;
• Clearance Time: 15 minutes
• Transportation: Shenzhen Metro, Huanggang Lok Ma Chau Shuttle Bus, Hong Kong MTR

Option 1: Metro + MTR

◆ Detailed Steps (about 1 hour & 40 minutes):

1. Take Shenzhen Metro Line 7 to Huanggang Checkpoint Station;

3. Take the Huanggang Lok Ma Chau Shuttle Bus from Huanggang on Shenzhen side to Lok Ma Chau on Hong Kong side;

4. Taking Hong Kong MTR East Railway Line to Hong Kong Hung Hum Railway Station in downtown for about 45 minutes. Then, you can transfer to other MTR lines to your ideal places or Hong Kong International Airport.

(Huanggang Lok Ma Chau Shuttle Bus costs about 10HKD and departs every 10-15 minutes during 06:30-24:00 and 10-20 minutes during 24:00-06:30)

Recommended Tours:

>> 1 Day Valuable Hong Kong Tour >>

Option 2: Cross-border Buses

Besides, there are some cross-border buses serving from Huanggang Port to many stations in Hong Kong, including Wan Chai, Prince Edward, Kam Sheung Road, and Hong Kong International Airport. However, crossing this Huanggang Port by cross-border buses, you need to get off the bus when arrive at the port and go through the clearance procedure with all your luggage and belongings. After your customs clearance, come out from the customs building and get on the bus to Hong Kong. Due to such not so convenient step, Huanggang Port is relatively not very popular for locals to and from Hong Kong, however, it has lower flow rate, so if you want to transfer with shorter line, this port is also good to choose.

Bus Schedule from Huanggang to Hong Kong

Bus Schedule from Hong Kong to Huanggang

( Note: The above information of ticket fee, time, stops, departures, terminus, etc. of Shenzhen Hong Kong bus is only for your reference, please contact us for the latest info.)

Top 3 - Shenzhen Wan to Hong Kong

Shenzhen Wan Port or Shenzhen Bay Port (深圳湾口岸) situated in Nanshan District in Shenzhen is a checkpoint for both passenger cars and trunks. There is no metro station available handy on Shenzhen or Hong Kong site, but travelers can go from Shenzhen to Hong Kong or from Hong Kong to Shenzhen directly by car or taxi through this port. Besides, cross-border buses are frequently launched to and from Jordon, Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui, Victoria Harbor, Disneyland, Hong Kong Airport, etc. Although it is a little far from Shenzhen downtown, the route offers fascinating seascape during your riding.

• Clearance Time: 10-15 minutes;
• Transportation: car / taxi; cross-border buses

◆ Detailed Steps By Car / Taxi

1. Get to Shenzhen Wan Port by car;

2. Get off the car to enter the customs building to go through all the clearance procedures;

3. Get on the car and Follow the signs to Hong Kong downtown.

Top 4 - Shekou to Hong Kong

Shekou Port (蛇口口岸) that has been moved into Shekou Cruise Homeport in Nanshan District is a port for cruise / ship transferring to Hong Kong and Macau, including Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong Skypier, Macau Taipa and Macau Outer Harbor. If you are going to catch a flight in Hong Kong International Airport with a hassle free clearance, Shekou is also a good choice, as there are less people queuing in a line.

• Opening Hour: 07:00-22:30;
• ransportation: cross-border cruises

Shenzhen Shekou Hong Kong Cruise Schedule:

Also, there are some cruise between Shenzhen and Macau, please check the detailed ship schedule as following:

Shenzhen Shekou Macau Cruise Schedule:

( Note: The above information of ticket fee, time, stops, departures, terminus, etc. of Shenzhen Hong Kong cruise is only for your reference, please contact us for the latest info.)

Top 5 - China Hong Kong Bullet Train to Hong Kong West Kowloon Terminus

Hong Kong has high speed bullet trains to and from China's mainland, including Guangzhou, Guilin Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Changsha, etc., with Shenzhen linking on the way, thus travelers can also get on a bullet train from Shenzhen to Hong Kong or from Hong Kong to Shenzhen. Hong Kong West Kowloon Terminus (香港西九龙站) at Tsim Sha Tsui area serves all bullet trains launching and reaching Hong Kong. Usually, from Shenzhen Futian Station to Hong Kong, it takes only about 15 minutes, and about 18 minutes from Shenzhen North Station. Policy of one port for entry and exit is implemented in this station, so travelers can go through the inspections and customs clearance rapidly and conveniently after you get off the train when arriving in Hong Kong or before you get on the train when leaving Hong Kong.

• Clearance Time: about 10 minutes

◆ Detailed Steps by China Hong Kong High Speed Train (within 1 hour)

1. Get on the bullet trains at Shenzhen Futian Station or Shenzhen North Station to Hong Kong;

2. Get off the train at Hong Kong West Kowloon Terminus;

3. Follow the signs up to Hong Kong Entry Floor on B2 to go through the China's mainland Exit and Hong Kong SAR Entry procedures;

4. Check your train ticket through the machine and get out from the railway station;

5. Follow the signs to Hong Kong MTR Austin Station or Kowloon Station to transfer to Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, or other places.

More Useful Links:

Shenzhen to Hong Kong Train Schedules & Tickets >>

Hong Kong to Shenzhen Train Schedules & Tickets >>

Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station >>

China Hong Kong High Speed Trains >>

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>> 4 Days Classic Hong Kong Shenzhen Tour (By Bullet Train)

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How to Cross Shenzhen Hong Kong Border Step by Step?

To go through Shenzhen Hong Kong checkpoints is not so difficult, let's take the popular Luohu Port as example and see the process step by step:

Step 1: Arrive at the Customs Hall in Shenzhen and follow the sign “To Hong Kong”;

Step 2: Find the sign for foreigners;

Step 3: Follow the sign to foreigners’ inspection passage;

Step 4: Pass the 1st China Immigration Inspection with your passport and visa document to leave China's mainland (Foreign people usually go the “Manual Lane”);

Step 5: Follow the sign to pass the 2nd Inspection to enter Hong Kong;

Step 6: Transfer to Hong Kong downtown by MTR / bus / car, etc.

Need a Visa for Shenzhen?

Visiting China's mainland, most foreign people need a Chinese visa before arriving. However, there are two main types of visa-free policies for the benefit of travelers, business people, visits, etc.

Type 1: Shenzhen 144-hour Visa Free Transit

China has implemented the 144-hour Visa Free Transit policy for the whole Guangdong Province (including Shenzhen). For visiting Shenzhen, citizens meeting the criteria from the specific 53 countries (regions) can enter Shenzhen via Shenzhen Baoan International Airport and leave Shenzhen no more than 144 hours (6 days) from any of the 36 appointed ports of exit, including Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Shenzhen Luo Port, Futian Port, Huanggang Port, Shen Bay Port, Shatoujiao Port, Wenjindu Port, Shekou Port, and Fuyong Port.

The qualified 54 countries are:

European Countries under Schengen Visa Agreement (25):

Austria, Belgium, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco.

Other European Countries (14):

Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Belarus.

America (6):

United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the Republic of Chile.

Oceania (2):

Australia, New Zealand.

South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar.

Check More about Shenzhen 144-hour Visa Free Transit >>

Types 2: 5 Days Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Tourist Visa (Visa on Arrival)

This visa allows citizens from the specific countries (regions) to visit Shenzhen from Hong Kong or Macau directly and exit Shenzhen from the appointed Shenzhen ports within 5 days (valid from the midnight the day after arrival). Those ports are Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Luohu Port, Futian Port, Huanggang Port, and Shekou Port.

The following 25 countries are NOT allowed to apply for the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Tourist Visa:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Cameroon, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Uganda, Yemen.

Check More about Shenzhen Visa on Arrival (VOA) >>

Hong Kong to Shenzhen Visa >>

Useful Tips for Shenzhen Hong Kong Border Crossing

1. e-channel - faster way for frequent shenzhen hong kong border crossing.

If you have already in Shenzhen for very long months, you may think about the E-Channel to go cross the border between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, which enables you to save more time in the long queue for customs clearance. Such special VIP pass needs some requirements. If you are a foreigner holing an electronic passport and a “Residence Permit for Fogrigner in the People’s Republic of China” valid for at least six months, you can apply for the E-Channel with your electronic passport with chip and fill the information of Data Collection Authorization at one of the specific ports:

2. Octopus Card - Highly Recommended for Hong Kong Visit

Octopus Card well help you save a lot of money and avoid a series of hassles for your border crossing between Shenzhen and Hong Kong and during your trip in Hong Kong. This extremely versatile stored-value electronic card can be used for most transportation in Hong Kong, including MTR, some buses, taxi, and purchases in supermarkets, convenient stores, fast food restaurants, etc. You can buy the card in a local convenient store or other appointed stores.

Travel with China Discovery

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Shenzhen as a vibrant and potential city in Southern China is favored by a lot of travelers and business people. Usually, you can spend 1-2 days to discover the classic essence to know the culture, history and city skyscraper there by visiting Shenzhen Museum, Splendid China Folk Culture Village , Windows of the World , Pingan Finance Center, Diwang Mansion, etc. Also, you can spend 1 more day to the popular Dafen Oil Painting Village and OCT Loft Creative Culture Park to savor the artistic flavor there. Hong Kong is the top 3 gateway cities in China with a lot of international flights. Besides, as a shopping paradise, a key economical center, and superb metropolis with fascinating cityscape and seascape, Hong Kong usually takes 1-3 days to savor all its bests and classics, including Victoria Harbor, Victoria Peak, skylines, Repulse Bay, Aberdeen, Big Buddha, Stanley Market, etc.

Besides, most people spend 1 day to the nearby Macau to enjoy the colonial architecture listed as World Heritage Site. Furthermore, it is also a top choice to travel to Guangzhou with another 2-3 days to appreciate Lingnan architectural arts and a lot of cultural, historical, folk and gourmet highlights.

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BEIJING, May 11 -- China will resume its fast-lane services at all its ports from May 15, as part of the country's efforts to facilitate travel across the border, the National Immigration Administration said Thursday.

In accordance with the practice, standards and requirements before the COVID-19 epidemic, Chinese nationals will be allowed to use fast lanes for expedited border inspection on the following travel documents: Chinese ordinary passports, exit-entry permits for traveling to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, mainland travel permits for Hong Kong and Macao residents, five-year mainland travel permits for Taiwan residents, and permits of multiple entries valid for one year, said the administration in a notice.

The fast-lane services will also be enjoyed by foreigners who hold their passports and China-issued foreign permanent resident ID cards, and foreigners who hold electronic passports and residence permits with a validity period of more than six months, it added.

China will also restore its trans-regional services to process mainland residents' applications for group travel permits to Hong Kong and Macao.

This means that mainland residents can apply for the permits at any entry-exit control department of public security authorities in the country, the administration said.

Mainland residents can also apply for family visit, work and study permits for Hong Kong and Macao at entry-exit control departments across the country, according to the notice.

The validity period of stay permits for mainland students in Macao will be adjusted from a maximum of one year to the entire duration of their studies in the special administrative region, said the administration.

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Hong Kong further adjusted its COVID-19 response by ending compulsory quarantine for infected people starting from Monday, and ...

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Driving a hard bargain: Inside the cut-throat world of Hong Kong’s cross-border ‘shopping agents’ 

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By Joey Yang and Eva Qiu

After driving slowly into a warehouse under a freeway in Tuen Mun, Chan unloads goods from his car. Two of his colleagues manoeuvre their vehicles to the side, before loading the items into their own cars according to their delivery destination.

In the process, a box of pastries falls to the ground. Chan – whose name has been changed to protect his identity – throws it in the trash, returns to the car seat and calls another colleague, asking them to tell the customer the baked goods are gone for the day.

In the mad rush to buy and deliver clients’ orders, there is no time to fuss over a box of pastries.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic closed the city’s borders in early 2020, mainland Chinese shoppers flocked to Hong Kong to buy products such as milk powder, cosmetics, medicated oil, and luxury items.

However, because not everyone had the time or the visa to cross the border southbound, shopping agents came into being. They bought goods in Hong Kong and sold them in mainland China, charging a fee on top of the retail price of the goods. 

Since Covid-related curbs were lifted, cross-border shopping habits have reversed. Prices tend to be cheaper in mainland China and an increasing number of mainland Chinese have moved to Hong Kong, many of whom crave products from back home.

To satisfy rising demand, people like Chan have sought to make a living transferring products from megastores and chain stores in mainland China to Hong Kong.

But being a shopping agent is a highly competitive, if not cut-throat, business. Chan readily admits that “there are too many shopping agents from Hong Kong” and that he often earns only enough to cover his petrol costs when ferrying goods across the border from Shenzhen.

To drive across the city’s border, private car owners must obtain licences and permits from the authorities in both Hong Kong and Guangdong province, including consent to pass through the relevant checkpoint – a process that can take months. It also comes at a cost : private car owners from Hong Kong can only obtain a mainland licence plate under an investment quota if they pay over HK$150,000 in taxes in China each year.

Then there is the question of legality. While Hong Kong is a free port and does not levy tariffs on most imports, under the Import and Export Ordinance, “any import of controlled items must be accompanied by a valid licence or permit issued by the relevant authorities,” the Customs and Excise Department told HKFP by email last month.

Chan gets around this by saying the goods he is transporting are for personal consumption.

“Controlled” items include game, meat, poultry, plants, eggs, powdered formula, and telecommunications equipment. Anyone found guilty of bringing them into Hong Kong without the required paperwork is liable to a maximum fine of HK$2 million and seven years’ imprisonment.

From instant noodles to vacuum cleaners

Among the reasons for the increase in popularity of cross-border shopping agents is that although goods in Shenzhen are cheaper than in Hong Kong, it is neither cost- nor time-efficient for individuals to frequently cross the border to shop. It takes around an hour to reach a boundary control point from central Hong Kong, and then more time to pass through two sets of customs.

But with people like Chan to do it for them, customers can receive items ordered in the morning that same evening.

Hong Kong residents buy everything from frozen dumplings and instant noodles to appliances like kettles and vacuum cleaners from stores in Shenzhen, with wholesalers Sam’s Club and Costco two of the most popular.

According to Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS), the labelling of packaged food sold in the city must either be in English, Chinese – Traditional or Simplified – or both. “Food for sale in Hong Kong, whether it is imported or locally produced, must be fit for human consumption and comply with relevant food safety standards,” a CFS spokesperson told HKFP by email in July.

“The Centre for Food Safety… has been reminding members of the public to patronise licensed food premises and online shops with appropriate permits when purchasing restricted food, and pay attention to the potential food safety risks when purchasing food online,” they continued.

Dozens of public groups pop up when searching for “Sam’s Club/Costco shopping agent” on Facebook. The most popular one has 74,000 members, and across them hundreds of posts are published daily seeking or offering shopping agent services.

“Super sweet mangoes with lots of flesh and a thin core. Same-day delivery for orders placed before 10 a.m.,” a shopping agent on one of the Facebook groups promised.

This is how Chan promotes his services, too, funnelling customers into a WhatsApp group with 740 members and new customers joining every day. People share their experiences of different products and discuss which are worth buying.

Sharley Wong has been using the shopping agent services for several months, once a week on average. She shares and discusses products she has bought from Chan in his WhatsApp group. 

“I think the food they bring back from the mainland is of better quality. Like soy milk, it has a stronger flavour than the version sold in Hong Kong,” she said after buying a box of soy milk from Chan that night. 

However, both Sam’s Club and Costco are restricted to members who pay an annual fee. An employee of Sam’s Club China said by phone that it did not allow agents to shop at its stores and had a system to detect them. A recent report in the South China Morning Post suggested Sam’s Club was looking to launch free delivery to Hong Kong for orders over RMB599 (HK$643). 

“This kind of purchasing agency is currently not supported, but there is still no clear way to prevent [shopping agents] from doing this,” the public relations department of Costco Shenzhen said. The store was also exploring offering a Hong Kong delivery service, it said, without providing further details.

Chan, however, was undeterred. 

“Most of our current orders are only around HK$300. Sam’s Club is still not sure whether it could deliver goods to the doorstep, but we can. I believe there will still be some space for us in the future,” Chan said.

A day in Chan’s shoes

In March, Chan’s store had been online for less than a month. To meet his customers’ orders, he sets off from Tuen Mun for Shenzhen at noon every weekday, returning eight hours later having driven over 100 kilometres and visited two Sam’s Clubs and a Costco.

After arriving with the day’s purchases at the warehouse in Tuen Mun, Chan still has work to do: sorting the orders, responding to customers’ inquiries, and delivering the goods to their doorstep.

When his day finally ends, he may not have sat down to eat for almost 10 hours. 

And after a busy day buying cakes, bread, instant noodles, and different snacks to complete five orders around Hong Kong, he and his three colleagues make only around HK$200 profit each – largely because they face such stiff competition. Since the prices of goods in Shenzhen are transparent, if an agent increases their price even slightly, customers will seek out cheaper alternatives. 

For example, a box of six packs of frozen burgers on the Sam’s Club website is priced at RMB89.9 (about HK$97). Chan needs to charge HK$134 to make a profit, but other agents list it for HK$119 or less. Consequently, agents seek to attract orders through superior service and after-sales support, or explore other methods to expand their business.

As a controlled item under the Import and Export Ordinance, any import of meat “is required to apply for an import licence from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD),” the CFS spokesperson said. Meat brought into Hong Kong is also supposed to have a health certificate issued by its place of origin or permission from the FEHD.

After two months without being able to cover the cost of hiring people to help him, Chan’s business came to a temporary halt in April. “It makes no money at all,” said one of his colleagues, who also quit. 

Making money as a loss leader

Couple Korsf Lee and Phoebe Lam entered the shopping agent industry early, and have been helping people buy Sam’s Club products since last July.

Lee, who used to run an interior design company, began selling items purchased from the Shenzhen store out of Lam’s frozen meat shop on the second floor of a boutique mall in Tuen Mun.

“When we first started working as shopping agents, the business was very good. There was not even enough room for me to stand in the frozen meat store since all the shelves were filled – even the floor was almost covered,” Lam said.

Lee soon decided to rent two more stores on the same floor specifically for the Sam’s Club shopping agent business. He no longer goes to Sam’s Club every day to buy goods like he used to, but instead tries to fill his car as much as possible each time he visits the store.

As competition in the shopping agency business became increasingly fierce, he decided to use his shopping agency as a “loss leader” – selling products cheaply to stimulate sales of more profitable items nearby. In this instance, the aim was to drive consumers to Lam’s frozen meat store.

The pair further expanded their business into locally made stew, a cross-border taxi service platform, phone cards for mainland China, and promotions for restaurants in Shenzhen. He describes the regular customers he has accumulated through his shopping agency business as “friends,” saying he never expected to have thousands who would support his business.

“It is always easier to ask thousands of people to give me a dollar each than to ask one person to give me thousands of dollars,” Lee said. 

Though they said they had not calculated specific profit data, both Lee and Lam said footfall had increased more than 50 per cent compared with before they opened the shopping agency business. In addition, they had more than 3,000 members in customer WhatsApp groups.

In those groups, Lee and Lam frequently update information about the products they have purchased from the mainland and the meat on sale at their frozen meat store. Some items, such as a hair removal device, spark particular interest for their cheapness compared to Hong Kong stores.

“It’s so cheap to buy from you,” one customer wrote on WhatsApp. “The old model I bought during the sale a few months ago was much more expensive than this one I bought from you.”

Exploring all potential sources

When Chan paused his business, many of his clients asked why he had stopped and when he would restart. It gave him the impetus to give it another go in mid-April. This time, though, he realised he could not depend on Sam’s Club and Costco alone; the competition was simply too fierce.

Chan sought to diversify, and, in May, expanded to offer clients cheesecakes and flowers. He also plans to add clothing. Now, he can complete around 20 orders at a time when he goes shopping in Shenzhen.

Chan said these added categories increased profit. Cheesecakes do not need too much time to purchase, and the store manager had begun setting cakes aside or notifying Chan when he should pick them up. Better still, while the cake cost RMB49 (HK$53) at the bakery in Shenzhen, Chan could sell it for HK$95.

On days when the order volume was high, Chan and his colleagues could make a profit of around HK$800 from the cheesecakes alone.

But the real money was in bringing packaged bouquets from Shenzhen to Hong Kong. Unlike other products he has purchased, the price of flowers varies greatly depending on the season, the location of the store, and the florists’ preferences. Chan tries to keep the cost as low as possible by cooperating with florists in mainland China.

Unlike with other products, he only posted photos of flowers in his WhatsApp groups. Ahead of Mother’s Day on May 12, he spent four days in Shenzhen buying flowers to meet more than 20 orders daily. Each bouquet of 10 to 20 flowers cost around HK$150 in Shenzhen. When Chan sold them in Hong Kong, he priced them at HK$300 to HK$500 each. He made around HK$15,000 in profits.

Chan’s success with flowers inspired him to venture into T-shirts. He planned to order a batch from a wholesale clothing market in mainland China at a cost of about RMB50 (HK$53) apiece. By adding some customised graphics and shipping them to Hong Kong for sale, he believed he could sell them for nearly HK$300 each.

He planned to visit the wholesale market soon to reach a deal with the shop owner, and was eager to get the business on a website he had made as quickly as possible. Though the T-shirts were not ready for sale, he added a blank product category specially for them online.

“I feel that I haven’t fully figured out the logic of the products on my website, so I don’t dare to expand my business further,” Chan said. “But I have been able to earn more money than before, so I believe I am on the right track – and I can do better.”

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U.S. Fed decision could spark Hong Kong real estate resurgence in 2025

16th August 2024 – (Hong Kong) The story of Hong Kong’s property market in recent years has been one of tumult and uncertainty. A perfect storm of factors – from the lingering effects of the pandemic to geopolitical tensions and a exodus of talent – has battered what was once considered one of the world’s most resilient real estate markets. Property prices have plummeted, with some sectors seeing declines of up to 32% from their 2018 peaks. This downturn has rippled through the economy, affecting everything from small business loans to consumer confidence.

However, as we approach the latter half of 2024, there are glimmers of hope on the horizon. The Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting in September is being watched with keen interest by investors and analysts alike. The CME Group’s FedWatch tool, a respected predictor of monetary policy changes, has placed the probability of a rate cut in September at nearly 100%. While the exact magnitude of this cut remains uncertain – with odds split between a 25 and 50 basis point reduction – the mere prospect of easing monetary policy has injected a note of optimism into global markets.

For Hong Kong, whose monetary policy is inextricably linked to that of the United States due to its currency peg, a Fed rate cut could be the catalyst for a long-awaited market stabilisation. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) would likely follow suit, potentially lowering its base rate and easing the pressure on homeowners and businesses that have been struggling under the weight of high borrowing costs.

The impact of such a move could be profound. Victor Li, Chairman of CK Asset Holdings Limited, one of Hong Kong’s largest property developers, has recently expressed confidence in the long-term prospects of the Hong Kong market. Speaking at an analyst meeting, Li acknowledged the current challenges but emphasised CK Asset’s history of successfully navigating market cycles. His belief that investors who acquire assets during periods of pessimism often reap significant rewards when the market rebounds resonates with a growing sentiment among industry insiders.

Indeed, there are already signs that the market may be approaching its nadir. The recent spate of loan recalls by banks, while alarming on the surface, may actually be indicative of a market bottoming out. As property values have declined, some financial institutions have moved to mitigate their risk by calling in loans or demanding additional collateral. While this has undoubtedly caused distress for many small and medium-sized enterprises, it may also be clearing the way for a more stable foundation upon which recovery can be built.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has responded to these developments by urging banks to consider a customer’s overall creditworthiness and ability to repay, rather than focusing solely on fluctuating collateral values. This approach, if widely adopted, could help prevent a cascade of forced sales and provide breathing room for businesses and homeowners to weather the current storm.

Looking ahead to 2025, several factors suggest that a slow recovery may indeed be on the cards. HSBC Global Research has projected a 2% rebound in property prices for 2025, predicated on the expectation of three interest rate cuts in the surrounding region. This forecast is bolstered by the ongoing deleveraging efforts of local developers and the gradual normalisation of the property market following the reduction of stamp duty and mortgage loan requirements.

The potential return of mainland Chinese buyers, who historically have accounted for over 30% of primary property purchases in Hong Kong, could provide a significant boost to the market. As cross-border travel continues to normalise and Hong Kong reaffirms its position as a key gateway to China, the allure of its property market for mainland investors may once again come to the fore.

However, it would be remiss to paint too rosy a picture. The road to recovery is likely to be long and fraught with challenges. The inventory of unsold completed properties remains high, and developers are prioritising the sale of new inventory over maintaining high prices. This could continue to exert downward pressure on the market in the short term.

Moreover, the structural shifts in Hong Kong’s economy and demographics cannot be overlooked. The city’s international character has undeniably diminished in recent years, with many Western expatriates departing and fewer arriving to replace them. This has led to a greater reliance on talent from mainland China, a trend that brings both opportunities and challenges for the property market.

The Hong Kong government’s efforts to attract new talent through schemes like the “Top Talent Pass” have shown mixed results. While they have successfully drawn many skilled individuals to the city, recent surveys have revealed that over 20% of these newcomers remain unemployed. This raises questions about the true economic impact of these talent attraction schemes and their ability to drive sustainable demand in the property market.

As we look towards 2025, the interplay between these various factors will determine the trajectory of Hong Kong’s property market. A U.S. interest rate cut in September could indeed be the spark that ignites a gradual recovery, but it will need to be accompanied by prudent local policies and a broader economic rebound to truly take hold.

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War latest: Western rockets destroyed key Russian bridge, Moscow claims - as Ukraine 'inflicts maximum damage' in Kursk

The Russian defence ministry claims rockets shipped from a Western nation were used by Kyiv to destroy a key bridge in Kursk, Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his forces are inflicting "maximum damage" on the Russian army in the region, as he explains what's behind the incursion.

Saturday 17 August 2024 07:50, UK

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy has heralded the achievements of his forces in the Russian Kursk area.

He encouraged his troops to inflict "maximum damage on all Russian positions" as they attempt to destroy army logistics.

"We see that the occupier is suffering losses, and this is helpful, very helpful for our defence," he said in a video address.

"It is about destroying the logistics of the Russian army and draining their reserves.

"We must inflict maximum damage on all Russian positions, and we are doing that.

"I thank each of our warriors for their precision, I thank them for strength and for resilience."

Russia's foreign ministry claims Ukraine used Western rockets to destroy a bridge over the Seym river in the Kursk region.

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was the first time the region had been hit by "Western-made rocket launchers".

The launcher in question was "probably American HIMARS", she said.

"As a result of the attack on the bridge over the Seym River in the Glushkovo district, it was completely destroyed, and volunteers who were assisting the evacuated civilian population were killed."

Sky News cannot independently verify this account.

Russian authorities are attempting to evacuate around 20,000 civilians from the region in the wake of Kyiv's cross-border incursion on 6 August.

The bridge links areas of Kursk that are still controlled by Russia and areas in which Ukraine has made advances.

Kyiv says its incursion is intended to protect Ukrainian lives by preventing cross-border attacks and diverting Russian reinforcements.

Russia regularly fires rockets, missiles and drones into Ukraine from its border regions.

Welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Yesterday, fighting continued in Russia's Kursk region as Ukrainian troops pushed on with their invasion. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his forces had advanced up to 3km (1.8 miles) in the area, and they were "strengthening" their positions. 

The day also saw a key bridge over the River Seym in Kursk destroyed in a Ukrainian attack, Russian state media reported. 

Ukraine's air force commander Mykola Oleschuk appeared to confirm the strike, sharing footage of the moment the bridge was hit. 

In a post on Telegram, he said pilots had struck "enemy strongholds" and supply routes in the region. 

Along the eastern frontline in Ukraine, Russian troops continued to push forward in the Donetsk region, with Moscow's defence ministry claiming its forces had taken control of the village of Serhiivka. 

Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities ordered the rapid evacuation of the nearby city of Pokrovsk. 

We'll be bringing you the latest updates throughout the day... 

That's all our live coverage on the war in Ukraine for now. 

We'll be back tomorrow with all the latest updates. 

Before we go, here's a reminder of today's key events: 

• An ally of Vladimir Putin - parliamentary deputy Mikail Sheremet - warned that Ukraine's invasion of Kursk had put the world "on the brink of a third world war";
• An anti-Putin group of Russians fighting on behalf of Ukraine urged Russian soldiers in Kursk to surrender and fight with Kyiv's army;
• Russian forces took control of the village of Serhiivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, according to the Russian defence ministry;
• A bridge over the River Seym in Kursk was destroyed in a Ukrainian attack, Russian state media reported, citing security officials;
• Ukrainian air force commander Mykola Oleschuk later shared a clip showing the moment a bridge in Kursk was hit, saying Ukrainian pilots had struck "enemy strongholds" and supply routes in the region. 

Nine people linked to the late Putin critic Alexei Navalny have been added to Russia's list of "terrorists and extremists", the news agency AFP has reported. 

It said those placed on the list include:

• Mr Navalny's former spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh
• His lawyers Olga Mikhailova and Alexander Fedulov
• The chair of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation Maria Pevchikh
• Opposition journalist Antonina Kravtsova
• Activist Olga Komleva
• Dmitry Nizovtsev, a host on Navalny's YouTube channel
• The YouTube channel's producer Nina Volokhonskaya
• Alexei Malyarevsky, a software programmer jailed for seven years for donating to Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation

The names were included on the website of the Russian financial monitoring service Rosfinmonitoring. 

The service is responsible to tackling the financing of people and groups that Russia has deemed as "terrorists" or involved in "extremist activity" and is able to freeze the bank accounts of those listed.

On X, Kyra Yarmysh claimed one of her accounts had been blocked within three hours of being added to the list. 

Mr Navalny died in February while serving a prison term in an Arctic penal colony. 

Russia's prison authorities said the 47-year-old died after a walk, but his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has accused investigators of trying to cover up his murder. 

Riding armoured vehicles and playing with dogs, Ukrainian troops are still firmly on the Russian border. 

Reuters has captured photos of them in Sumy - the area where they launched their surprise invasion of Russia's Kursk region last week. 

Since then, they've taken land and pushed on with their offensive, capturing the town of Sudzha yesterday and advancing up to 3km (1.8 miles) today, according to their commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. 

Five villages in Russia's Belgorod will be evacuated due to ongoing Ukrainian attacks, the region's governor has said. 

Writing on Telegram, Vyacheslav Gladkov said entry to the areas would not be allowed.

"From August 19, we are closing entry to five settlements in the region, resettling residents and helping to remove property," he said. 

Yesterday, Russia's Emergencies Ministry declared a "federal level" state of emergency in the Belgorod due to ongoing Ukrainian attacks. 

A regional-level state of emergency had been declared earlier in the week, and the change in status suggested a worsening situation in the region. 

A Ukrainian lion with "shellshock" is being driven 1,400 miles to start a new life in the UK.

Yuna has psychological issues and coordination problems after debris landed near her enclosure in January, according to a Kent animal sanctuary.

Yuna and male lion Rori - who's also said to be traumatised following a "massive attack" on Kyiv - are the first of five lions being rescued.

Read the full story here ...

Footage has emerged of the moment a bridge in Kursk was destroyed. 

Ukrainian air force commander Mykola Oleschuk shared the clip on Telegram, saying forces had taken part in "combat operations" in the Russian region.

He said Ukrainian pilots had hit "enemy strongholds", equipment, logistic centres and supply routes with the "high precision strikes". 

"Thank you to the pilots and everyone who ensures the combat work of aviation," he added. 

It comes after Russian state media reported a key bridge over the River Seym in the area had been destroyed by Ukraine. 

The destruction had made civilian evacuations harder, TASS news agency reported, citing Russian security officials. 

A man has admitted to being a member of Russia's Wagner Group but claimed he was only "pretending" to be involved.

Piotr Kucharski pleaded guilty to membership of a proscribed organisation between 15 September and 28 October 2023 at the Old Bailey today. 

As he entered his plea, the 49-year-old said: "Guilty that I was pretending that I was a member of the organisation."

Dan Pawson-Pounds, prosecuting, said: "There is no evidence that Mr Kucharski actually travelled to the location he claimed to have gone to, or engaged in the activities relating to the Wagner Group, so that is why the charge has been framed in the way it has."

Simon Gledhill, defending, said: "In short, he told people, and gave the impression that, he was a member of the group rather than being an actual member."

Kucharski listed his address as Watford, Hertfordshire, but he said after the hearing that he was from Poland.

He was convicted and served a 15-year sentence for armed robbery in Poland, the court was told.

He remains on conditional bail.

Who are the Wagner Group?

The group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in September 2023, making it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group in the UK.

The group became a focus of the war in Ukraine in 2022, with its recruits helping Russia in the battle of Bakhmut - one of the bloodiest of the conflict. 

Its former leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, later organised a march on Moscow in an attempt to oust senior Russian military leaders over the treatment of his mercenaries and the handling of war. 

But, his attempted mutiny failed. He was later exiled by Vladimir Putin and died in a plane crash a short time later.

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U.S. Officials to Visit China for Economic Talks as Trade Tensions Rise

The recently established U.S.-China Financial Working Group is set to meet for discussions about financial stability and curbing the flow of fentanyl.

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By Alan Rappeport

Reporting from Washington

A group of senior Biden administration officials is traveling to Shanghai this week for a round of high-level meetings intended to keep the economic relationship between the United States and China on stable footing amid mounting trade tensions between the two countries.

The talks will take place on Thursday and Friday and are being convened through the U.S.-China Financial Working Group, which was created last year . Officials are expected to discuss ways to maintain economic and financial stability, capital markets and efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

Although communication between the United States and China has improved over the past year, the economic relationship remains fraught because of disagreements over industrial policy and China’s dominance over green energy technology. The Biden administration imposed new tariffs in May on an array of Chinese imports, including electric vehicles, solar cells, semiconductors and advanced batteries. The United States is also restricting American investments in Chinese sectors that policymakers believe could threaten national security.

The U.S. delegation, which departed on Monday, is being led by Brent Neiman, the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for international finance. He will be joined by officials from the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission. They are expected to meet with the People’s Bank of China’s deputy governor, Xuan Changneng, and other senior Chinese officials.

“We intend for this F.W.G. meeting to include conversations on financial stability, issues related to cross-border data, lending and payments, private-sector efforts to advance transition finance, and concrete steps we can take to improve communication in the event of financial stress,” Mr. Neiman said ahead of the trip, referring to the abbreviation for the financial working group.

American and Chinese financial regulators have been conducting financial shock exercises this year to coordinate their responses in the event of a crisis, like a cyberattack or climate disaster, that might affect the international banking or insurance systems.

The Biden administration has been urging China to take action to prevent chemicals used to produce fentanyl from being exported to other countries and smuggled into the United States. There were signs of progress this month when China announced that it would put new restrictions on three of these chemicals, a move that the United States described as a “valuable step forward.”

Other economic issues between the two countries continue to be contentious. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen pressed Chinese officials during her trip to China in April to stop flooding global markets with cheap clean-energy products, warning that its excess industrial capacity would distort global supply chains.

But after a meeting of Communist Party leaders last month, there was little indication that China would retreat from its investments in high-tech manufacturing or take major steps toward rebalancing its economy by bolstering domestic consumption.

The talks this week are the fifth meeting of the financial working group and will be the second time the officials have convened in China.

Alan Rappeport is an economic policy reporter, based in Washington. He covers the Treasury Department and writes about taxes, trade and fiscal matters. More about Alan Rappeport