By Ted Salonek | China Jobs Daily

The recent closing of China’s borders has left a lot of current and prospective expats in limbo. The Chinese government has slowly released information and in planning to lift restrictions in the near future. Currently, China is allowing some foreign business executives to enter the country. This is understandable, as China is eager to restart its economy. The businesses intending on bringing foreign executives back into the country must apply for the ability to do so and the foreign professionals will be obligated to quarantine themselves for a specified amount of time upon arrival.

This is a sign of progression for China, as it barred entry, completely, to all foreign individuals back in March. This border closing, along with the nationwide shutdown, has led to China having the worst decline in GDP in nearly 50 years.

In Hong Kong, which hasn't recorded a community-borne coronavirus case for more than three weeks, authorities have put in place a plan to allow some business travelers and students from mainland China to enter without requiring quarantine. Officials are also working to allow quarantine-free travel for some in neighboring Macau — in more than a month, the former Portuguese colony has not reported any new cases.

Hong Kong could start accepting the first groups of non-quarantined mainland travelers as early as the conclusion of May. Since mid - January, schools are getting ready to resume in stages from May 27—with high school students coming back to their classrooms first. Some 27,000 students from Shenzhen, that borders Hong Kong, are attending the city's educational institutions.

Applications for quarantine exemptions for business travelers started on May 4. Targeting Hong Kong factory owners and employees working in mainland China, the plan states that applicants must demonstrate that their travel has to do with "manufacturing operations in the interest of economic development in Hong Kong." Applicants should provide defined information regarding their business operations and remain in the mainland Chinese municipality where their place of operation is located. The amount of submitted requests and applications has not been released.

The Wall Street Journal reported, in late April, that China had "approached a number of countries to discuss the possibility of relaxing border controls to enable certain business travel to resume, part of broader attempts to revive the coronavirus pandemic-stalled economic activity." So far, China and South Korea have had two meetings and have collectively agreed on a ' fast-track ' method of entry into China. The policy will initially apply to ten Chinese provinces and municipalities. When approvals from their employers and health screenings are accepted, South Korean citizens may apply for a visa. Arriving South Koreans will be quarantined in China for a shorter period than the normal 14-day extent. The requirements are identical for Chinese nationals who want to 'fast track' into South Korea but are spared from quarantine if they undergo the required medical screenings.

Within China, there has been a reopening of tourist attractions. Disneyland in Shanghai has allowed people to reenter its theme park while still adhering to screening and social distancing procedures. Also, as the season of cherry blossoms begins, China is pushing to open its outdoor attractions first and allow residents to enjoy the outdoors. The city zoo and Botanical Garden have reopened in Shanghai, and more than 180 museums across the country have also begun bookings and accepting visitors. Today, all guided tours are interactive video and audio tours only.

Stay Tuned

Although China is slow-moving in its return to allowing incoming foreign travelers, there have been some observable steps in the right direction. China has been working with individual foreign countries to allow incoming travel, opening its tourist attractions, and tirelessly formulating policy in order to bring infection rates down and keep them there. Here at China Jobs Daily, we are keeping a close eye on any developments related to the reopening of China’s borders. If you have any information to share or questions to ask, reach out to me at ted@foreignhr.com.