--- title: Hong Kong to End Mask Mandate After Almost 3 Years description: Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport in Hong Kong from Wednesday. canonical: https://time.com/6258932/hong-kong-ends-mask-mandate-covid/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2023-02-28T02:49:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-11T20:48:34.000Z article:section: World og:title: Hong Kong to End Mask Mandate After Almost 3 Years og:description: "From tomorrow we are completely returning to normalcy," Hong Kong leader John Lee said og:url: https://time.com/6258932/hong-kong-ends-mask-mandate-covid/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfa641bb8419bdcd4/698a3ab34ee262193031b253/hong-kong-mask-mandate-ends-covid.jpeg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Hong Kong to Lift Mask Mandate After Almost 3 Years og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Hong Kong to End Mask Mandate After Almost 3 Years twitter:description: "From tomorrow we are completely returning to normalcy," Hong Kong leader John Lee said twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfa641bb8419bdcd4/698a3ab34ee262193031b253/hong-kong-mask-mandate-ends-covid.jpeg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Hong Kong to Lift One of World’s Longest Mask Mandates After Almost 3 Years by [Jinshan Hong, Kari Lindberg and Shirley Zhao / Bloomberg](/author/bloomberg/) ## Jinshan Hong, Kari Lindberg and Shirley Zhao / Bloomberg Updated: Dec 11, 2023 8:48 PM CUTPublished: Feb 28, 2023 2:49 AM CUT  People wear masks on a street in Hong Kong on February 27, 2023. People wear masks on a street in Hong Kong on February 27, 2023.Peter Parks–AFP/Getty Images by [Jinshan Hong, Kari Lindberg and Shirley Zhao / Bloomberg](/author/bloomberg/) ## Jinshan Hong, Kari Lindberg and Shirley Zhao / Bloomberg Updated: Dec 11, 2023 8:48 PM CUTPublished: Feb 28, 2023 2:49 AM CUT Hong Kong will stop requiring masks to be worn in public places from Wednesday, drawing to a close the prolonged Covid era that damaged its economy and standing in the world. Masks will no longer be needed outdoors, indoors or on public transport, Hong Kong leader John Lee told reporters on Tuesday. “From tomorrow we are completely returning to normalcy,” Lee said. “This year and the next year, we will focus on the economy and development.” **Read More:** [_Why Rapid COVID-19 Test Results Are Getting More Confusing_](https://time.com/6246838/confusing-rapid-covid-19-test-results/ "undefined") The move comes as the government seeks to attract tourists and overseas workers to revitalize the finance hub. Next month will see Hong Kong host the biggest series of international events since often-violent protests in 2019 shut down much of the city, including a music festival, Art Basel and the Rugby Sevens tournament. Hong Kong had dropped most other pandemic restrictions by earlier this year. “For business it’s a game changer,” said Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Holdings Ltd. “Before, a lot of people would stay away from Hong Kong because the mask was showing that we were still stuck in the Covid days.” People have been required to wear masks in all public places, including outdoors, from July 29, 2020\. The rule is enforceable by fines of up to HK$10,000 ($1,275), with police regularly handing out HK$5,000 penalties on the spot for transgressors. Shares of companies linked to tourism gained. Mall landlords Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. and New World Development Co. rose more than 1.4%. Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd., which sells beauty products, climbed as much as 6.4%. Hong Kong was one of last places on Earth to mandate mask-wearing. At one stage, masks were required even when exercising. The rule increasingly jarred with Hong Kong’s push to move beyond the pandemic and lure visitors. As part of its Hello Hong Kong campaign, the city is giving away more than half a million airline tickets starting from Wednesday. “This is definitely the most welcome news to us, not only for us being in Hong Kong, living in Hong Kong but also for us running the airline,” Mandy Ng, chief executive officer of low-cost carrier Hong Kong Express Airways Ltd., told Bloomberg Television. Tourism numbers remain low. In January, passenger volumes at the Norman Foster-designed airport were a third of the level four years earlier. That compares with 77% for Singapore. The removal of the mask mandate may help stimulate interest in Hong Kong, along with the ticket giveaway. **Read More:** [_The Bivalent Booster Protects Against New COVID-19 Variants, New Data Show_](https://time.com/6250130/bivalent-booster-efficacy-new-omicron-variants/ "undefined") “At least now tourists don’t have to worry about being fined for not wearing a mask in the street,” said Pamela Mak, president of Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Association. The past three years of global isolation have weighed heavily on the city’s economy and reputation. Gross domestic product shrank 3.5% in 2022, contracting for the third time in four years. 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