Special boundary-crossing and corresponding public transport service arrangements during Halloween weekend announced
Following the meeting of the interdepartmental working group on the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, on October 28 to holistically co-ordinate and steer the preparatory work of various government departments in addressing the peak in cross-boundary passenger and vehicular traffic at the Huanggang Port during the Halloween period this weekend, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (October 29) announced the special boundary-crossing and corresponding public transport service arrangements during late-night hours this weekend.
With Halloween falling on this weekend, coupled with a number of events taking place in Hong Kong including the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival and mega concerts, the number of visitor arrivals and late-night cross-boundary trips is expected to increase significantly. As multiple mega events are expected to conclude around midnight, the Government anticipates that the late-night hours this weekend (i.e. from about 11pm each night to 2am the following day) will be the busiest period for northbound passenger and vehicular flows at the Huanggang Port, and traffic at the port and in the vicinity of San Tin Highway will be very busy.
To effectively divert cross-boundary passenger and vehicular flows during late-night hours and alleviate the traffic pressure on the Huanggang Port and surrounding roads, the HKSAR Government has reached a consensus with the relevant authorities of the Shenzhen Municipality that clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be extended by two hours from the original closing time of midnight to 2am the following day on two consecutive nights on October 30 and 31. Details are as follows:
(1) Clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on the night of October 30 (Friday) will be extended by two hours from the original closing time of midnight to 2am on October 31 (Saturday); and
(2) Clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on the night of October 31 (Saturday) will be extended by two hours from the original closing time of midnight to 2am on November 1 (Sunday).
Among the land boundary control points (BCPs) between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, currently only the Huanggang Port provides 24-hour clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles. Cross-boundary private cars holding permits for other land BCPs (Shenzhen Bay, Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Heung Yuen Wai) are permitted under normal circumstances to use the Huanggang Port between midnight and 6.30am daily. To divert cross-boundary private cars more effectively, during the extended service hours of the Shenzhen Bay Control Point (i.e. from midnight to 2am on October 31 and November 1), cross-boundary private cars holding Closed Road Permits (CRPs) for the Shenzhen Bay Control Point can only use the Shenzhen Bay Control Point for boundary crossing, while the arrangement permitting them to use the Huanggang Port between 2am and 6.30am remains unchanged. As for cross-boundary private cars holding relevant CRPs for the Huanggang Port and other land BCPs (Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok and Heung Yuen Wai), the arrangement permitting them to use the Huanggang Port during the aforementioned early morning hours remains unchanged.
As regards cross-boundary coaches (CBCs), the HKSAR Government has co-ordinated with relevant operators to extend the operating hours of CBC services (northbound) using the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, including CBC services departing from major urban pick-up points popular among visitors such as Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok.
Regarding local public transport services, to tie in with the special arrangement of extending the clearance hours at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, franchised bus operators will operate two special overnight bus routes, Nos. NB2 and NB3, during the aforementioned early morning hours, providing services between the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun respectively.
Members of the public and visitors may obtain information such as the average waiting times for passengers and private cars at various land BCPs as well as real-time traffic snapshots through the Security Bureau's one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" and the Transport Department’s "HKeMobility" mobile application to plan their journeys in advance and save waiting time.
The interdepartmental Joint Command Post at the Huanggang Port, the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre of the Security Bureau, and the Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will operate during the weekend to closely monitor clearance operations as well as passenger and vehicular flows at various land BCPs, alongside traffic and public transport conditions across various districts in Hong Kong, implement contingency measures in a timely manner, and disseminate the latest boundary clearance and traffic information through various channels.
A Government spokesman said, "The implementation of the special arrangement to extend the clearance hours at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point helps divert late-night cross-boundary passenger and vehicular flows and facilitates travel for residents of both places and visitors. This was made possible by the full support of the relevant authorities of Shenzhen Municipality, which fully demonstrates the close collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen as well as the high importance both sides attach to facilitating boundary clearance for residents of both places and visitors."
The HKSAR Government will continue to closely monitor the situation, make swift responses and flexibly deploy manpower when necessary to ensure that operations at the ports and surrounding traffic remain safe, smooth and orderly.
Source: AI-found images
