Family or job? Tough decisions for Hong Kong border commuters

Hongkong: Waiting at a bus stop on Hong Kong's border with mainland China, Billy Yiu was preparing to say goodbye to his wife and baby, unsure when he might see them again. The 40-year-old Hong Konger works in the semi-autonomous financial hub and commutes daily from neighbouring Shenzhen, where rents are far cheaper.

But the journey will be all but impossible for the foreseeable future. In a bid to halt the spread of a deadly new coronavirus, Hong Kong on Saturday began placing anyone crossing from the mainland under a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

So on Thursday night Yiu was making a final trip back to Shenzhen to see his family before returning to Hong Kong where he would stay with his parents. "I don't know how long this is going to last but what can we do?" he told AFP. His wife had opted to stay in Shenzhen with their baby. "It's not easy for her. But we have a domestic helper and we will make video calls," he said.

Tens of thousands of people are making similarly tough decisions.

A child crossing a bridge (R), which can be used only by villagers granted a special permit, within a Frontier Closed Area from Lo Wu MTR station in Hong Kong. Under the "one country, two systems" model, Hong Kong is a part of China but maintains its civil liberties and free market economy. The border acts as a de facto international boundary.

Passengers lining up to board a bus from Tuen Mun in Hong Kong to Shenzhen, via the Shenzhen Bay Bridge. The bridge is one of only three crossings open between Hong Kong and China as part of government measures to control the spread of a coronavirus which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The Shenzhen Bay Bridge and the skyline of Shenzhen in the background. Usually about 660,000 people cross between the two sides each day, 17 percent of them Hong Kongers who live in mainland China.

Passengers on board a bus shortly before their departure from Tuen Mun in Hong Kong to Shenzhen, via the Shenzhen Bay Bridge. With mandatory quarantining now in place, Hong Kong authorities expect cross-border travel to slow to a trickle.

The Shenzhen Bay Bridge is one of only three crossings open between Hong Kong and China as part of government measures to control the spread of a coronavirus which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

A footbridge (bottom centre R), which can be used only by villagers granted a special permit, within a Frontier Closed Area from Lo Wu MTR station (R) in Hong Kong to a border check point with Shenzhen (C) in China, which is currently closed as part of government measures to control the spread of the coronavirus which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Passengers on board a bus shortly before their departure from Tuen Mun in Hong Kong to Shenzhen.

Passengers disembarking from a bus shortly after their arrival in Tuen Mun in Hong Kong from Shenzhen.