Hong Kong tightens border with mainland over coronavirus

City falls deeper into recession, marking first annual GDP contraction in a decade

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam did not wear a surgical mask at her news conference on Feb. 3 as she had done previously, and as other government officials have done. © AP

MICHELLE CHAN, Nikkei staff writer

February 3, 2020 21:09 JST

Updated on February 3, 2020 22:46 JST

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong will close most of its land border with mainland China in an effort to reduce inbound travelers and contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Monday.

Only three out of 14 border control points in the city -- including the airport, the Shenzhen Bay crossing, and the bridge to Macao and Zhuhai -- will remain open. The closures were to take effect at midnight on Monday.