Hong Kong-Shenzhen border crossings see heavy crowds during holiday

During the Chung Yeung Festival long holiday, significant passenger flows have been observed at Hong Kong-Shenzhen border crossings. At the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, travelers reported heavy crowds and long queues at bus stops, with mainland authorities implementing crowd control measures. Despite the congestion, processing times were reported to be approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

At the newly opened New Huanggang Port, Security Bureau Secretary Deng Bingqiang reported that daily passenger numbers have averaged over 80,000 since its opening, with peaks reaching 90,000. He anticipates daily traffic will exceed 100,000 during the holiday period. The port is designed to handle up to 200,000 people daily.

Deng noted that the new port utilizes a 'cooperative inspection' model that allows travelers to complete both entry and exit procedures in one stop, significantly increasing efficiency. While some initial congestion occurred with vehicle crossings due to driver unfamiliarity with new requirements, authorities have since deployed additional staff to assist. Plans are also underway to launch an upgraded 'Port Pass 2.0' mobile app by the end of the year, which will use AI to provide real-time waiting time predictions.