Hong Kong plans to relax some anti-COVID-19 measures next month.
This includes lifting a ban on flights from nine countries, reducing quarantine for arrivals from abroad and reopening schools.
The moves, which was announced on Monday by leader Carrie Lam, comes after a backlash from businesses and residents.
Lam told a news conference that; "The flight ban is no longer timely and appropriate. It will bring huge disturbances to Hong Kong people who are stuck in these nine countries if we continue the ban."
A ban on flights from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United States would be lifted from April 1.
Hotel quarantine for arrivals could also be cut to seven days from 14 if residents tested negative, Lam added.
She said schools would resume face-to-face classes from April 19, after the Easter holidays while public venues including sports facilities would also reopen from April 21.
Hong Kong has registered the most deaths per million people globally in recent weeks, which is more than 24 times that of Singapore.
The city has recorded more than 1 million infections since the pandemic started and about 5,000 deaths.
Quadri Adejumo covers World News, Health, Climate & Humanitarian.
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