The Chief Executive of Hong Kong John Lee announced on Thursday that the border between Hong Kong and China will be reopened on Sunday, ending three years of pandemic restrictions that have isolated the financial hub from the Chinese mainland.

"The purpose of my call today is to announce the implementation of the relations between Hong Kong and the mainland. First of all, I am grateful that the Central Committee has agreed to gradually, orderly and comprehensively communicate with the mainland," John Lee said.

Up to 60,000 Hong Kong residents will be able to cross the border into the mainland as a gradual reopening of border control points begins, Hong Kong leader John Lee told the media.

Hong Kong residents travelling to the Chinese mainland will no longer have to quarantine or undergo a COVID-19 test after they arrive as part of moves to resume cross-border travel in a "gradual and orderly" way.

"I want to allow a large number of people to go through because there has been the voice of a lot of people both locally and overseas wishing Hong Kong to proceed to normalcy as quickly as possible," John Lee added.

The reopening comes amid news hospitals and funeral homes have been filling up in China after a u-turn by Beijing on its zero-COVID policy. However, official numbers remain low.