Tourist travel permits to Hong Kong, Macao suspended

The National Immigration Administration suspended the issuance of travel permits to Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions for mainland tourists starting late Tuesday.

The administration said in a statement that the move was taken due to the need to prevent and control novel coronavirus-related pneumonia. Given that Hong Kong and Macao have adopted some restrictions regarding the entry of mainland residents, the administration suggests those holding travel permits do not travel to the two special administrative regions if there's no urgent need.

For those with travel permits who fail to travel to Hong Kong and Macao before the permits expire, the administration will grant them new permits identical to the ones they are now holding, according to the administration.

By midnight Monday, there had been 4,515 confirmed infections of the highly contagious pneumonia on the mainland, as well as eight in Hong Kong, seven in Macao and five in Taiwan, the National Health Commission announced on Tuesday morning.