The National Health and Health Commission announced on the evening of the 26th that it will adjust the level of prevention and control of the new coronavirus from January 8, 2023, and propose 12 measures, including entry. Testing and centralized isolation, etc., that is, the mainland will officially "switch" from January 8.
As the customs clearance schedule between Hong Kong and the Mainland is getting closer, all walks of life have begun to speed up preparations for the full return of customs clearance.
The port business district, which has been depressed for nearly three years, has begun to become active again.
Grandma Zhen, who has been running a seafood restaurant in Sheung Shui for many years, heard a reporter asking about the customs clearance between the two places. Although she said, "I can't be sure until that day", the expectation for this good news is still palpable.
She laughed and said, "Of course I'm happy, it's a great thing."
She told reporters that before Hong Kong strengthened port epidemic prevention measures, many mainland customers would make a special trip to the store to buy seafood years ago.
After three years of the epidemic and three years of "closed customs", Grandma Zhen's seafood shop has been deserted for three years.
She said that the "closed customs" has a great impact on the food sales industry. "We mainly serve regular customers, most of whom are mainlanders, but they can't get through under the epidemic. The impact on business is not the slightest."
The staff of the seafood grocery store said that they believe that there will be a large wave of mainland customers coming to consume after customs clearance.
Photo by Dai Xiaolu
After cleaning up a large plate of dried fish and taking off her gloves, Grandma Zhen turned around, pulled the reporter and whispered, "We have been in touch with mainland customers all the time, and recently we have shared new products in the store with them. You can enjoy the familiar old taste in the new year." She said that she believed that after customs clearance, the store's business would be revived, and the store also began to plan to recruit shop assistants.
The cosmetics industry that Ms. Li, a salesperson, is engaged in is facing the same problem.
In an interview with reporters, she said that during the closure of the port, the store's business plummeted. "In the past, during holidays, our cosmetics store was the most popular with mainland tourists, and some even dragged their suitcases to purchase. At the worst time, the store All the employees have been disbanded, and I am the only one.” When the reporter interviewed, Ms. Li was talking about the goods with the newly hired employees.
"The customs clearance news has just been released. I am very happy. If there are customers, there will be business." She told reporters that because it is still in the Christmas holiday, she has not received any further arrangements from the company.
Although it is still a holiday, the MTR has already started various preparations to fully cooperate with the SAR government to resume customs clearance arrangements.
Jin Zepei, CEO of MTR, said, "MTR looks forward to the resumption of services at Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Station, and West Kowloon Station of the High Speed Rail. The MTR team is preparing for customs clearance, fully cooperating with the SAR government, and working closely with relevant departments to formulate The plan is to ensure that the railway services are gradually, orderly, and comprehensively connected to the two places.” MTR responded that it has been working hard to upgrade equipment, and hopes to provide passengers with more convenient and comfortable services when the relevant stations reopen.
Hong Kong Customs also posted on social platforms on the 26th that it has made preparations at various port control points to allow various cross-border activities between Hong Kong and the Mainland to gradually and orderly regain normal momentum. Carry out customs drills vigorously, check epidemic prevention equipment, correct customs clearance facilities, and prepare for customs clearance.
Cleaning staff are cleaning the West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station.
Photo by Chen Yongnuo
Some cleaning personnel also revealed to reporters that there are already many maintenance personnel and cleaning personnel in the West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station to clean and maintain equipment.
On the departure train schedule in the station, there is a clear train schedule.
The reporter also saw on the Internet that the outsourcer of West Kowloon Station posted a recruitment advertisement, hiring train attendants to be responsible for actively providing good customer service in the station lobby, waiting area and on the train, including maintaining the order of passengers getting on and off the train, answering passenger inquiries, and implementing crowd control. control responsibilities, etc.
The schedule of departure vehicles appears at the West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station.
Photo by Chen Yongnuo
The Hong Kong Airport Authority stated that it welcomes the gradual, orderly and comprehensive "customs clearance" with the mainland, and will continue to actively prepare with the airport industry to ensure the smooth operation of the airport to meet the upcoming increase in flights and passengers.
The Security Bureau of the Special Administrative Region Government responded to the reporter's inquiry and stated that the Secretary of the Security Bureau had immediately held an emergency meeting a few days ago, together with the heads of the relevant disciplined forces and the colleagues of the Security Bureau to discuss how to actively promote related work, and put forward various plans to ensure the operation of the entry-exit control points Smooth, customs clearance can be carried out in an orderly manner.
The Security Bureau will continue to follow up the relevant matters in the "Customs Clearance Coordination Group" led by the Chief Secretary for Administration.
Tian Beichen, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, revealed in an interview with reporters that the high-speed rail is also preparing for customs clearance.
He said that the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway needs to connect with the mainland rail after passing through Hong Kong, and it coincides with the Spring Festival travel period, which is the busiest time for high-speed rail operation. I believe that Hong Kong will need time to coordinate with the mainland railway department on specific matters. On the 15th, arrangements will be made to open more tracks. The routes are not limited to Guangzhou and Shenzhen, but also include major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. "Comprehensive" customs clearance will be achieved in terms of railway coverage.
After customs clearance, there will be a new train from West Kowloon Station to Guangzhou East Station, and there is no need to transfer to other means of transportation to go to the more prosperous areas of Guangzhou.
Many citizens came to the West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station at night, hoping to see the customs clearance arrangements as soon as possible.
Photo by Chen Yongnuo
At 8:00 p.m. on the 26th, the reporter finally called the owner of a 24-hour brine shop near the port. He said that since the Futian port was suspended, many shops in the surrounding area have closed down, and his brine shop has also adjusted its business. Time, "It's pitch black at night, no one will come." He said, "At the beginning, the money I earned was barely enough to pay the rent, but later I had to pay the rent, but in the end I couldn't hold on." He told reporters that when he heard After clearing the news, he and his wife discussed to focus on their old business, "I have already started contacting about renting houses. When the port is restored, there will be more passenger traffic, and sales will naturally increase. The previously dismissed employees should be recruited back. "
After a long silence on the other end of the phone, the owner of the brine shop said something for no reason. Recently, Futian Port often lights up at night.
Perhaps, for these shop owners, what they see is not only the lights at Futian Port flickering again, but also the rolling shutter doors they will reopen and the fiery business with people coming and going.
(China News Agency WeChat official account text reporter: Dai Xiaolu Photographer: Chen Yongnuo)