Huanggang Port faces first major passenger surge after revamp

The newly revamped Huanggang Port checkpoint experienced its first significant stress test during the Chung Yeung Festival long weekend, recording over 150,000 total trips in a single day. On Sunday, passenger crossings peaked at 152,068, with 77,166 departures and 74,902 arrivals.

The rebuilt facility utilizes a “Collaborative Inspection and Joint Clearance” model, where Hong Kong and mainland officials work together to allow passengers to complete immigration procedures through a single queue. During peak hours, such as the window between 1pm and 2pm on Sunday, outbound passenger flow reached 9,728 trips per hour.

To manage the surge, the Immigration Department opened all available clearance channels and counters, implementing crowd diversion and control measures in coordination with the police. Authorities reported that waiting times within the departure hall remained under 30 minutes following these expedited measures. Challenges noted during the peak included passengers unfamiliar with automated channels and families with young children requiring manual counters, leading to temporary congestion.