Hong Kong to scrap police permits for Mai Po wetland visits as Frontier Closed Area shrinks again

The Security Bureau confirmed on 6 May that all subsidiary legislation needed to further open the Frontier Closed Area (FCA) will be gazetted on 8 May, marking another milestone in the gradual dismantling of Hong Kong’s once-heavily-restricted northern buffer zone. The amendment order removes a section of Mai Po from the FCA, meaning bird-watchers and eco-tour groups will soon need only an Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department permit—rather than the current dual-permit regime that also requires police approval—to enter the world-famous marshes.



Travellers who would like extra assistance navigating the updated permit landscape can turn to VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/). The service keeps abreast of the city’s fast-moving regulatory changes and can streamline applications for AFCD permits, China visas, and other travel documents in a single, user-friendly dashboard—saving both visitors and corporate mobility teams valuable time.

A separate notice grants permanent permission for public light-bus services to use the Lin Ma Hang road corridor without Closed Area Permits, formalising a pilot arrangement introduced last year to support access to the new Robin’s Nest Country Park. Once the changes take full effect on 24 July, the only parts of the FCA still off-limits will be boundary-patrol roads and the border-crossing facilities themselves. For mobility managers, the liberalisation offers two advantages. First, business visitors who combine Shenzhen factory inspections with weekend eco-tours will face less paperwork and can obtain the AFCD permit online in three working days. Second, staff living in the Northern Metropolis will benefit from improved feeder-bus connectivity, shortening commutes to both the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line station and the future Huanggang rail hub. Employers should update travel-risk assessments: although police permits are going away, Mai Po remains a protected area with strict visitor quotas, and breaches of the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance carry hefty fines. HR teams arranging group outings should secure slots well in advance and brief participants on bio-security rules, such as disinfecting footwear to prevent avian-influenza spread.