Hong Kong lifted its mask mandate on Wednesday, ending the city’s last major restriction imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s chief executive, John Lee, said masks are no longer be required for residents or travellers both outdoors and indoors, including on public transit.

Lee’s announcement came a day after neighbouring Macao eased its mask rule and brings the financial hub closer to life in pre-pandemic days.

Lee said he made the decision because the city did not see a rebound in infections and has built an immunity barrier.

“In order to give people a very clear message that Hong Kong is resuming normalcy, I think this is the right time to make the decision,” he said.

He said the return to normalcy would be beneficial to Hong Kong’s economic development and international competitiveness.

For most of the pandemic, people in Hong Kong had been required to wear masks in indoor and outdoor public areas. Violators could be fined 5,000 Hong Kong dollars ($870).

Hong Kong had largely followed mainland China’s “zero COVID” strategy over the last three years and had some of the world’s strictest anti-virus rules. In the last six months, the government has taken bigger steps to open up in an attempt to revive the economy and catch up with rivals such as Singapore.

The announcement comes as Hong Kong ramps up its “Hello Hong Kong” campaign, which includes offering 500,000 free airline tickets, in a bid to woo tourists back to the city.

The Hong Kong Tourist Board in Canada notes that the announcement is in time for a line-up of international mega events in the coming month in the city, such as Clockenflap (March 3-5), Art Basel (March 23-25) and the Hong Kong Sevens rugby (March 31 – April 2).

The HKTB says it is eager to welcome back global travellers “with smiling faces” and that visitors can once again “enjoy Hong Kong’s iconic and new experiences to the fullest.”