Hong Kong is dropping almost all its COVID restrictions this week, following a similar move by mainland China. From Thursday, people arriving in the city – a special administrative region of China – will no longer have to do mandatory PCR tests.<br />''<br />''The vaccine pass system will also be scrapped – but compulsory masks in public places will continue. It is a dramatic move by the city, which once had some of the toughest restrictions in the world. <br />''<br />''Also being scrapped from Thursday is the rule that limits the number of people allowed to gather outside to 12.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">This was increased from four people in October as part of measures to begin reopening the city</span><br />