The Cross-Harbor Tunnel in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will reopen at 5 a.m. on Wednesday, days after it was severely damaged during riots, said Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration Matthew Cheung at a press conference on Tuesday.

The tunnel, which links Kowloon with Hong Kong Island, has been out of action since November 13, when protesters threw petrol bombs and set ablaze barricades there as part of a bid to paralyze the city's transport system.

As a result, the fire-prevention, ventilation and other monitoring systems for the tunnel were severely damaged in the attacks.  

With the tunnel closed, the government has been providing free ferry services between Hung Hom or Kowloon City to Wan Chai.

Cheung said earlier on Saturday that the SAR government had mobilized about 380 people from various departments a day to start repairs and maintenance on the tunnel.

Parts of the highway leading to the tunnel also needed to be repaired, Cheung added.