BEIJING — Exit and entry departments of China's public security organs will gradually resume the handling of Chinese mainland residents' tourist endorsements for individual or group tours to Macao, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said on Aug 11.

According to a notice released by the NIA, residents of Zhuhai in South China's Guangdong province will be able to have their tourist endorsements handled from Aug 12. 

The resumption is expected to be expanded across Guangdong province from Aug 26, and across the country from Sept 23, if the COVID-19 prevention and control situation stays stable in both the Chinese mainland and Macao.

However, applications for papers or endorsements for tours to Macao by residents in medium- or high-risk zones for COVID-19, or residents who travel to such zones within 14 days before applying, will not be accepted, the notice said.

It asked applicants to hand in their applications via online bookings to service windows for exits and entries at public security organs, and plan their tours reasonably.