BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) According to Hong Kong's "Ta Kung Pao", the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government strives for a phased quarantine-free clearance with the mainland starting on the 8th. Every second counts to formulate a safe plan and announce the details in due course.
The cross-border bus ticketing station in Prince Edward is ready to reopen on the 4th.
The China-Hong Kong-Macao Through Bus Association expects that 600 trips can be provided per day in the first phase of customs clearance, but the fare will increase, and the farther the increase, the more expensive it will be. The one-way fare between Shenzhen and the cities in the Greater Bay Area is between 50 yuan (HKD, below same) to 200 yuan.
The SAR government will announce the first phase of customs clearance arrangements in the near future. According to sources, the reopened ports in the first phase include the Lok Ma Chau branch line connecting Shenzhen Futian and the Man Kam To Passenger Transport Port, etc., but excluding the Luohu Port and the high-speed rail. The first phase is "northward". , "Southbound" each with about 50,000 daily quotas, which will initially be allocated to Lok Ma Chau Port (Futian Port), Shenzhen Bay Port and Man Kam To Port, of which Lok Ma Chau Port has 35,000 quotas, Shenzhen Bay has 10,000 quotas, and the rest 5,000 points will be allocated to the Man Kam To Port.
Two more checkpoints will be opened on January 15, namely the Huanggang checkpoint and the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai checkpoint. Passengers must obtain tickets online in advance.
Preliminary preference is given to a first-come, first-served basis for the relevant quotas.
A spokesman for the SAR government said in response to inquiries that the "Customs Clearance Coordination Group" is racing against time to formulate a sound plan to achieve a gradual, orderly and comprehensive customs clearance.
A direct bus company ticketing center on Sai Yeung Choi Street in Mong Kok had workers preparing for its reopening on the afternoon of the 4th.
According to a staff member, fare and route information cannot be provided for the time being, and information will be announced as soon as possible.
Chen Zongyi, secretary-general of the China-Hong Kong-Macao Direct Bus Association, said that there are currently about 150 cross-border buses ready to be put into service on the 8th of this month. It is estimated that 600 trips can be made between Hong Kong and the Mainland every day in the early stage of customs clearance, with a carrying capacity of nearly 30,000 People, in anticipation of a great chance of "auspicious cars" (empty cars) returning to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Kowloon East member Deng Jiabiao suggested that the SAR government will introduce an application quota system later, try to simplify the application procedures, and even exempt some people from the quota restrictions to provide convenience.