The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s legislature on Friday passed the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill, establishing a legal basis for the new land crossing’s co-location arrangement.

The bill also paves the way for the Hong Kong Port Area’s operation under the jurisdiction of Hong Kong SAR laws starting July 31.

The new Huanggang port spans nearly 700,000 square meters and is located east of the Lok Ma Chau/Futian checkpoint. Unlike the current Huanggang port, the new checkpoint will apply a co-location immigration arrangement, allowing travelers to complete border clearance within five minutes by having their documents inspected only once.

Once in operation, the new Huanggang port will operate around the clock, becoming one of the world’s largest land crossings with a daily capacity to handle 200,000 passenger trips and 15,000 vehicle crossings.

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The date on which the port will officially open to the public is to be determined jointly by the Guangdong and Hong Kong authorities.

The bill, gazetted on Tuesday, underwent first and second readings at Wednesday’s Legislative Council meeting, and was passed after a four-hour debate in a special plenary meeting on Friday. It also needs to be signed by the chief executive and promulgated in the official gazette to take effect.

On June 26, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress authorized the Hong Kong SAR to exercise jurisdiction over the new Huanggang port’s Hong Kong Port Area and related extension zones. The State Council on July 8 stipulated the specific coordinates and area of the Hong Kong Port Area, and agreed that the Hong Kong Port Area is to be commissioned from 12 am on July 31.

Speaking at Friday’s LegCo meeting, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the SAR and Shenzhen authorities will launch subsequent preparatory works upon the port commencing operation, including joint system testing, trial operations and emergency drills, to ensure that all facilities and operational arrangements are sound, comprehensive and well‑prepared, with the aim of opening the new port to the public as early as possible.

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According to the bill, the superstructure of the Huanggang port building is basically completed, and interior fitting-out works and the installation of required facilities are being carried out concurrently by contractors from both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides.

Regarding transportation arrangements, Tang said public transportation services cover seven franchised bus routes, six green minibus routes, cross-boundary bus services and taxi services. The Transport Department will also optimize and strengthen short-haul cross-boundary bus services, he added, and the authorities will closely monitor the operation status and adjust services promptly.

During the debate, lawmakers voiced both support for and concerns over the new port’s operation. Jimmy Ng Wing-ka, representing the industrial (second) constituency in the legislature, hailed the new port as a major step in optimizing cross‑boundary infrastructure in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and enhancing clearance efficiency.

He pointed out that the new port would bring at least “four key benefits”: faster clearance that eases pressure on other checkpoints; round‑the‑clock operation that boosts two‑way exchanges; facilitation of regional coordinated development; and improved cross‑boundary logistics to build a “high‑speed corridor for innovation and technology”.

The port is connected to Shenzhen Metro Line 7. Lawmaker Christine Fong Kwok-shan urged the SAR government to enhance the port’s rail connectivity by pressing ahead with the construction of a subway line connecting San Tin to the new Huanggang port, which is currently scheduled to commence service by 2034.

Chan Siu-hung expressed support for the co-location arrangement, which is also known as “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” model. Chan also stressed that while implementing this innovative and efficient mechanism, the government must ensure the strictest protection of personal privacy.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com