THE Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government yesterday announced that licensed travel agencies will be allowed to organize package tours for locals of not more than 30 people within Hong Kong from Friday.

Travel agencies will have to strictly implement epidemic prevention measures and record the personal information and contact details of every tourist.

The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau, said tourism is one of the sectors hardest hit by the epidemic, and the conditional reopening can help build confidence in the industry and boost morale among its practitioners.

Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported five additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 yesterday, taking Hong Kong’s total tally to 5,261.

One of the newly reported cases was a local infection which had not been traced, while the other four were imported cases from India, Britain, France and Russia, the CHP said.

According to Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority, 127 patients are being treated in hospitals, including 12 in critical condition.  (Xinhua)