A cast member (left) welcomes visitors upon their arrival at Hong Kong's Disneyland on June 18, 2020, after the theme park officially reopened following nearly five months of closure in a fresh boost for a city that has largely managed to defeat the COVID-19 coronavirus. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Tuesday announced the loosening of social distancing measures as the COVID-19 epidemic eases, but restrictions on inbound visitors will remain.

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The limit on the number of customers in bars, nightclubs, cinemas and some other entertainment venues will be raised from half of the total capacity to 80 percent, which will be effective for two weeks starting from Friday, according to a government statement.

The limit on the number of customers in bars, nightclubs, cinemas and some other entertainment venues will be raised from half of the total capacity to 80 percent, which will be effective for two weeks starting from Friday

Hong Kong will also raise the cap on the number of people at places of worship from half of the total capacity to 80 percent. Public group gatherings of more than 50 people will still be prohibited.

According to the statement, the government will extend quarantine measures for inbound visitors for another month ending Aug 7.

The HKSAR government is working with authorities in Guangdong province and the Macao SAR to relax quarantine measures for some travelers of the three places. 

The announcement came as the financial hub reported two imported cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the city's infection tally to 1,205.

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The new cases involved two men aged 19 and 59 respectively, who had a travel history during the incubation period, the Center for Health Protection said, adding that epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing are underway.

According to the Hospital Authority, there were still 90 COVID-19 patients in hospital, including one in critical condition.