Gov says 3rd Huanggang port drill went smoothly

A third, large-scale drill at the Hong Kong-side port area of the new Huanggang Port building sees civil servants mobilised to stress test the facilities.

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan says the drill proceeded smoothly and the overall process will be efficiently reviewed and summarised.

More than 10,000 civil servants from 70 departments arrived at the new Huanggang Port building at noon.

They first went up to the departure hall on the 5th floor.

Testing out the collaborative inspection and joint clearance model at the departure hall e-gates.

Travellers have to go through three checkpoints.

After scanning their ID documents or using facial recognition at the Hong Kong border gates, they proceed to the gates connecting Hong Kong and Shenzhen, where they scan their fingerprints or use facial recognition to complete departure clearance.

And finally, verifying their identity at the Shenzhen side to formally complete their entry.

The drill also simulated various emergency scenarios as travellers enter Hong Kong.

Suspicious individuals are asked to put their luggage through X-ray, and a millimetre-wave detection system - used for the first time at a land border checkpoint - is deployed to detect objects concealed under clothing.

Orange dots indicate a detection,

contraband such as untaxed cigarettes, are immediately identified.

live turtles were also seized and handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

Body temperature is also monitored upon entry.

If travellers feel unwell after entering, medical assistance teams are on-site to help,

and ambulances on 24-hour standby at the Huanggang Fire Station are available for immediate response.

Finally, the drill simulated buses and the MTR from Shenzhen arriving fully loaded with passengers so as to test whether the Hong Kong port area can handle an influx of 2,500 people.

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan and Secretary for Security Chris Tang, among others, inspected the site.

Chief Secretary for Administration ERIC CHAN: “Of the 90 immigration counters, 60 were used today. Although only two-thirds of the capacity, but still we can see the whole operation was very smooth and can handle all 10,000 passengers smoothly. And the remaining 30 counters, immigration channels, will need some slight adjustment before it can be put into operation.”

The new Huanggang Port building is situated in Futian District of Shenzhen.

Since Hong Kong residents will have to use roaming data upon arrival, the Hong Kong government is providing complimentary Wi-Fi within the building.