New checkpoints to boost exchanges between mainland, HK

Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province is doubling down on efforts to smoothen the flow of people and cargo to and from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by building and upgrading checkpoints.

Two new checkpoints in the pipeline are located in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone and the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.

Though Qianhai, designed by the State Council, or China's Cabinet, in 2010, is a 20-minute drive away from the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint, a dedicated Customs station is expected to meet the rising demand for business exchanges, fueled by 9,000 companies and 10,000 residents attracted to the zone from the SAR.

A possible location of the new checkpoint is at the under-construction Qianhai Comprehensive Transport Hub — a building complex encompassing metros, buses and intercity railways. In addition, the governments of Shenzhen and the SAR are jointly studying a new rail link between Qianhai and the Northern Metropolis in Hong Kong, converging at the checkpoint.

In the Hetao zone, the two existing checkpoints already handle one of the largest cross-border passenger and vehicle traffic flows between the two cities. However, an adviser believes the new port should focus on scientific and technology research exchanges.

Ouyang Huiyu, a member of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has proposed to explore the possibilities of electronic visa and contactless clearance by leveraging the zone's unique advantages.

According to the development plan for Shenzhen Park of the Hetao zone issued by the State Council last year, the central government supports it to promote international scientific and technological innovation and build a first-class scientific and technological platform with Hong Kong.

So far, more than 2,000 people working in the area commute between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

Liu Weixiang, director of the Office of Port Entry and Exit of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, underlined the importance of both Qianhai and Hetao checkpoints for supporting the development of the two pivotal collaboration projects.

They are also part of the city's overall strategy of upgrading old checkpoints and establishing new ones, he said.

Liu said that the old Huanggang Port and Sha Tau Kok Port are set to be rebuilt, getting rid of their cargo inspection functions and enhancing traveler inspection capabilities.

"The nation's first sea-air comprehensive port hub will be inserted into the Shekou Port with cross-border helicopter entry and exit services," he said.

The upgrade plan is projected to ease pressure from swelling travel demand between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. "Though Shenzhen has 16 first-class ports, the most in the country, they also serve the largest volume of cross-border traffic," he pointed out.

As of Aug 4, the number of inbound and outbound trips at Shenzhen ports this year exceeded 134 million, according to the office of Shenzhen Port. The day of Aug 10 witnessed record daily passenger volume since the full recovery of cross-border transportation.

Liu said travelers could check the real-time passenger flow at Shenzhen's land ports through the "iPort "WeChat mini-program, which updates every three seconds.