Hong Kong is negotiating the opening of “travel bubbles” with up to 11 countries as the third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak stabilizes in the city, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau revealed on Tuesday.

The 11 countries are Japan, Thailand, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. Once a bilateral arrangement has been struck, Hong Kong will open its borders to citizens from those select countries without any mandatory quarantine requirements. But Taiwan, one of the places most visited by Hongkongers, is not included on the list.

It is the first time in almost half a year that authorities have revealed information about such travel arrangement plans. In late August, the commerce minister said Hong Kong would restart discussions with several countries, including Japan and Thailand, over forming travel bubbles after establishing a mutually recognized testing mechanism.

The Hong Kong government imposed an entry ban on all foreign travelers in March as one of the key measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers from mainland China, Macau and Taiwan were also barred from entering if they had been to a foreign country in the past 14 days.

This led to a 99% year-on-year slump in visitor arrivals in July, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Yau said there was no timetable in place about proposed travel bubbles anytime soon. Hong Kong residents are also still subject to the 14-day compulsory quarantine after returning from foreign countries.

The government also announced it will further ease social-distancing rules on Friday. Limits on group gatherings at restaurants will be increased from two to four people while businesses including museums, mahjong parlors, ice rinks, amusement arcades and most indoor and outdoor sports facilities can reopen on a week’s trial starting Friday.

However, premises such as swimming pools, party rooms, theme parks, karaoke bars and nightclubs will remain closed.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan added that rules would be relaxed further if the COVID-19 situation remained stable, in the hope of reactivating social and economic activities in a “gradual, step-by-step” manner.

Hong Kong confirmed six new cases on Tuesday, of which three were local infections. Three cases were from overseas travelers, with two from the Philippines and one from Ukraine.

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