Travellers praise Huanggang Port new facilities

The new Huanggang Port building officially opened this morning, becoming the first checkpoint in Hong Kong to adopt the "Collaborative Inspection and Joint Clearance" mode.

Many travelers noted that the clearance process was smooth. Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan said authorities would be fully prepared to handle the upcoming Chung Yeung Festival holiday weekend.

As the clock struck 6:30 AM, the new Huanggang Port officially opened for service. On the L4 Arrival Level, large groups of mainland travelers were eager to cross the border.

Shenzhen resident Mr. Jie said that under the old system, he had to get on a bus twice and scan fingerprints twice. Now, he only needs to scan once, and is extremely convenient.

Another Shenzhen resident Mr. Jiang said it took less than half a minute to clear the border. and the directional signs are very clear.

Bus companies are well prepared to take care of those entering Hong Kong.

For visitors who leave the new Huanggang Port, staff from the bus companies will distribute leaflets with instructions on how to take the bus.

Over on the Departure Level, no Hong Kong residents were seen leaving at the moment the port opened; the first batch arrived about 10 minutes later. Mr. Wu said it felt very spacious and that he was excited trying something new.

This Shenzhen resident was an early bird. He said he was among the first batch entering at around 6.30am, and was now heading back to his home city.

In the past, travelers holding foreign passports had to use manual counters. The new Huanggang Port features dedicated e-Channels for foreign travelers.

US citizen Ms. Ng was told she was the first foreigner to clear the border, and she finds it very convenient to just walk from the mainland immigration counter to the Hong Kong one.

The new Huanggang Port adopts the "Collaborative Inspection and Joint Clearance" mode, and is equipped with 134 e-Channels and 68 manual counters.

Travelers who register in advance via the "Hong Kong e-Channel" mobile app or at service kiosks can directly use the e-Channels or face-scanning clearance.

Those who haven't registered can do so directly at the turnstiles when crossing. The entire registration and clearance process takes only about one minute.

However, things did not go smoothly for a few people. One traveler got stuck at the third gate and required assistance from Shenzhen staff.

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan also visited the site to inspect operations. He noted that on the first day of opening, all Immigration Department and Customs counters were fully open.

Chan said the real challenge will come on Saturday and Sunday. He said he hopes the staff will get well-accustomed to the new setup before the weekend holiday peak arrives.

As for cross-boundary private cars, the first car to use the new port arrived at around 6:35 am. Some drivers displayed the National Flag and the HKSAR Flag on the front of their cars to celebrate the opening of the new port.

Vehicle inspections also feature a new streamlined process, completing Shenzhen-Hong Kong Customs and Immigration checks in a single stop.

Accompanying passengers must disembark with their luggage and proceed to "L1M" and "L3M" levels to complete immigration formalities.

Meanwhile, at 6:30 AM, Immigration Department officers lowered the shutters at the old Huanggang Port, officially marking the end of its historic mission.