China has eased visa restrictions for Shenzhen residents visiting Hong Kong, allowing multiple entries into Hong Kong per year beginning from Dec. 1, Xinhua reported on Friday.

China has eased visa restrictions for Shenzhen residents traveling to Hong Kong, allowing multiple entries starting December 1. The new policy permits stays of up to seven days, benefiting tourism and retail sectors as over 10 million Shenzhen residents are eligible.

The previous restrictions were implemented in response to concerns from Hong Kong residents about parallel trading, where an influx of shoppers from the mainland bought everyday goods in Hong Kong to

Central authorities earlier announced multiple-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents would return on Sunday after policy was axed in 2015.