The new Huanggang port is expected to handle at least 100,000 travellers each day in the early phase of its opening, according to Director of Immigration Benson Kwok.

Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme on Saturday, he said his department is looking into fine-tuning the operational system with Shenzhen authorities with the aim of further improving the time needed for crossings under the “collaborative inspection and joint clearance” model.

"Because the systems in Hong Kong and Shenzhen are different, we have to make them interoperable to ensure that each self-service channel can successfully and accurately transfer the travellers’ identity, facial image and fingerprint data collected at the point of departure to the point of entry."

Asked whether the port would be able to reopen before the upcoming National Day Golden Week holiday, Kwok said the SAR and Shenzhen authorities would come up with a date after ensuring it meets the criteria of safe, smooth and efficient operations and stressed that the goal of both parties is for the reopening to happen as soon as possible.

When travellers first use the self-service channel at the redeveloped port, he pointed out, the process is expected to take slightly longer than usual as they have to give their consent for their data to be shared with authorities on the entry side for verification purposes.

They will also be asked if they agree to the use of facial recognition to enable them to make the crossings, he said, as if they do, they will no longer have to take out travel documents when passing through the crossing in the future.

Prior registration for facial recognition will be available soon, Kwok said, through a new app, the launch of which will be announced in due course, or at self-service kiosks at the redeveloped port.

Government departments, he said, have been continuing to carry out smaller-scale drills following four major stress tests involving tens of thousands of civil servants.

The port's daily handling capacity will be, Kwok said, about 200,000 travellers in the initial stage, with the figure surging to 300,000 later.

The department has been recruiting more manpower for the port, adding that more than 100 retired officers have been employed on a contract basis so far.



Edited by Robert Kemp