The photo taken on September 23, 2018 shows a G79 train from Beijing West Railway Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. Photo: VCG

Information for a direct train between Beijing and Hong Kong appeared on China's national online train ticket booking platform 12306 on Wed but no tickets were available, with passenger services at West Kowloon Station yet to resume.

With the further optimized epidemic prevention and control measures being rolled throughout the Chinese mainland, checkpoints reopening between the mainland and Hong Kong has become a hot topic amongst the public.

On Wednesday, information of the direct train G79 between Beijing West Railway Station and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station on January 4, 2023, appeared on the train ticket booking platform 12306.

The information showed that railway schedule was being adjusted and that ticket sales for the train on that date were suspended, whereas there was no direct train information before January 4, the Global Times found on Wednesday.

The Global Times learned from railway customer service that normal passenger services have not resumed at the West Kowloon Station and the specific date for service resumption is uncertain.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, railway services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and the mainland have been suspended since January 30, 2020.

The Global Times also learned from local staff that the station has not yet started providing services to travelers and no tickets are available for the train G79.

Statistics from China Railway Guangzhou Group show that before the suspension of railway service between the mainland and Hong Kong, a total of 105 pairs of cross-border trains operated daily in and out of Hong Kong, including 95 pairs of high-speed trains and 10 pairs of direct trains running between Hung Hom Station and the mainland.

As the mainland's epidemic prevention policies continue to be optimized and adjusted, people in Hong Kong are increasingly optimistic about checkpoints being reopened.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on social media on December 15 that it is "highly possible" the border with the mainland will reopen in 2023.

Lee traveled to Beijing on Wednesday to deliver his annual work report. He told a press conference on Tuesday morning that he understands that the public call for reopening of borders between the mainland and Hong Kong is a general view, and he will report the city's situation in detail as part of his work report. He also emphasized that the city would fully cooperate with the mainland on matters relating to epidemic prevention and control.