Smart Pass Pilot to Enable In-Car Border Clearance at HZMB from December
SingTao · 10 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong is preparing to introduce a Smart Pass pilot scheme at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port in December, enabling eligible cross-boundary private car drivers and passengers to clear immigration without leaving their vehicles or presenting physical documents. The system, utilizing artificial intelligence and facial recognition, will be announced in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's Policy Address on September 16 alongside Hong Kong's first five-year plan.
Key Points
- The Immigration Department plans to launch the Smart Pass pilot at the HZMB Hong Kong Port in December 2026, extending the contactless e-Channel technology to vehicle clearance .
- Under current arrangements, passengers must disembark at a designated drop-off area and walk to the accompanying passengers clearance hall, while drivers proceed separately through vehicle lanes .
- The new system uses multiple cameras with real-time facial tracking and AI search algorithms to authenticate all vehicle occupants simultaneously without documents .
- The scheme's first phase targets pre-registered eligible Hong Kong permanent residents; the June 25 e-Channel pilot achieved approximately five-second clearance times .
- Legislator Chan Chung-yi and automotive association president Ringo Lee Yiu-pui have called for backup manual lanes and expressed hopes the system will be extended to Zhuhai .
Why It Matters
The Smart Pass scheme could eliminate one of the most cumbersome steps in private-car border crossings at the bridge, potentially reducing the frequent mismatches between drivers and passengers that worsen congestion during peak travel periods. If successful, the AI-based clearance system could serve as a model for expansion to other boundary control points and potentially facilitate bilateral seamless border clearance arrangements with mainland and Macau authorities .
The Smart Pass scheme could eliminate one of the most cumbersome steps in private-car border crossings at the bridge, potentially reducing the frequent mismatches between drivers and passengers that worsen congestion during peak travel periods. If successful, the AI-based clearance system could serve as a model for expansion to other boundary control points and potentially facilitate bilateral seamless border clearance arrangements with mainland and Macau authorities .