HONG KONG – The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is studying whether to provide electronic arrival cards for visitors coming to the city to streamline immigration clearance, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said Wednesday.

Answering a query at the Legislative Council, Tang said the department was looking into the experience of other regions on the use of electronic arrival or departure cards "or other technologies in handling immigration clearance".

Tang also said that relevant departments of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port have been taking various measures to provide quality clearance services to cross-boundary travelers as passenger and vehicular traffic increases

“The scope of study includes the related legal basis, system requirements, hardware facilities, and operational workflow, so as to further streamline the immigration arrangements and make it more convenient to visitors,” Tang said.

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“The ImmD will strive to complete the relevant study by the end of this year and decide on the way forward of the improvement plan based on the study outcome,” he added.

Tang also said that relevant departments of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port have been taking various measures to provide quality clearance services to cross-boundary travelers as passenger and vehicular traffic increases.

During weekends and holiday periods in March, there were about 11,900 private cars crossing the HZMB Hong Kong Port on average per day, including 6,250 outbound and 5,650 inbound private cars. The port’s handling capacity is around 60,000 vehicles per day.

Tang said the authorities have been deploying manpower flexibly, optimizing workflow, making effective use of information technology, and operating more private car clearance kiosks during peak periods to meet the cross-boundary demand.

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Meanwhile, Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics Liu Chun-san said the HKSAR government was discussing with Chinese mainland authorities the possibility of allowing cross-boundary private cars holding the regular quota and permit for Heung Yuen Wai Control Point to use Lok Ma Chau Control Point overnight.

Heung Yuen Wai Control Point was opened in 2020 and cross-boundary private cars began using it after the full resumption of travel in February 2023.

Currently, cross-boundary private cars holding the permit for that control point can cross use it from 7 am to 10 pm every day, as well as using the HZMB Hong Kong Port to cross the border overnight.