New Huanggang Port Conducts Cross-Border Vehicle Inspection Drill; Five-in-One Gates Not Yet Activated
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago5 MIN
Summary
The new Huanggang Port (皇崗口岸) held a comprehensive cross-border vehicle inspection drill on Tuesday, with approximately 400 private cars and 208 public transport vehicles participating. The exercise, organized with support from the Hong Kong Automobile Association (HKAA), simulated the "five-in-one" automated clearance pathway, though the high-tech gates were not actually activated during the drill. Participants reported generally smooth operations, with some drivers suggesting improvements such as additional directional signs to separate private vehicles from freight trucks before the Shenzhen checkpoint.
Key Points
- The drill mobilized about 400 private cars, 96 buses, 50 direct buses, 12 minibuses, and 50 taxis for pressure testing of the "five-in-one" clearance system
- Reporters and vehicles gathered at the Upper Shatin Police Tactical Unit base in Kong Wa Fu and the Fanling PTU headquarters before proceeding to the new port
- The full journey from the assembly point to the new Huanggang Port and back took approximately 45 minutes, with the circuit from the north yard taking about 13 minutes
- A buffer zone was set up at the north yard for private cars to wait, helping prevent queues from backing up onto the main road
- Driver Mr. Chen, who completed three rounds, suggested leveraging the 24-hour border crossing advantage and implementing vehicle diversion during different time periods
Why It Matters
The successful implementation of the new Huanggang Port's automated clearance system could significantly reduce crossing times for the growing number of Hong Kong drivers participating in the "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" scheme. As more drivers seek to travel between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, improvements to border infrastructure and traffic management will be essential for preventing the severe congestion commonly seen at major checkpoints during holiday periods.
The successful implementation of the new Huanggang Port's automated clearance system could significantly reduce crossing times for the growing number of Hong Kong drivers participating in the "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles" scheme. As more drivers seek to travel between Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, improvements to border infrastructure and traffic management will be essential for preventing the severe congestion commonly seen at major checkpoints during holiday periods.