The long-awaited call came out. On January 5, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao, led a number of officials to hold a press conference and announced that Hong Kong and the mainland will implement quarantine-free "customs clearance" from the 8th. In the first stage, 60,000 Hong Kong residents can pass through the country every day. 7 sea, land and air ports "go north".
"Customs clearance" program: safe and orderly
In the first stage of "customs clearance", a total of 7 entry and exit ports were opened. In addition to the Shenzhen Bay Port, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong International Airport, the other 4 reopened ports are the Lok Ma Chau branch line connecting Shenzhen Futian Port. , Man Kam To Port, Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal and China Ferry Terminal.
Data map: Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal.
Photo by Li Zhihua
In terms of land ports, the number of people going "north" and "south" in the two places is arranged to be 50,000 each, and residents of the two places need to make reservations for ports and time slots online.
Taking "Going North" as an example, the single-day arrangements for the number of Hong Kong residents entering the mainland via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (Futian Port), Shenzhen Bay Port, and Man Kam To Port are 35,000, 10,000, and 5,000, respectively.
The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government arranged an internal drill for the "switch".
Photo courtesy of the Immigration Department
Although there are quotas for Hong Kong people "going north" and mainlanders "going south", there is no limit to the number of Hong Kong people in the Mainland returning to Hong Kong, and mainlanders in Hong Kong returning to the Mainland.
At the same time, there are no restrictions on the number of people at sea ports, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the airport. In other words, as long as you have air tickets, boat tickets and train tickets, you can travel between the two places, except for those who use small passenger cars to pass through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (reservation is required).
Based on its own transport capacity, the daily one-way transport capacity of ports other than land routes is about 10,000 people.
In order to reduce the risk of cross-infection of the epidemic, residents of both sides must undergo a nucleic acid test for the new coronavirus 48 hours before travel, and the result is negative before entering the country.
After the Spring Festival, cross-border students will be able to travel from the mainland to Hong Kong every day to participate in face-to-face classes without an appointment.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Li Jiachao announced the details of "customs clearance" between Hong Kong and the Mainland on the 5th.
Photo by Chen Yongnuo
Li Jiachao said that based on 60,000 people per day, nearly 1.8 million Hong Kong people will enter the mainland in one month, and 3.6 million in two months, which is almost half of Hong Kong's population.
The SAR Government will work with relevant Mainland authorities to ensure safe, orderly and smooth "customs clearance".
For the first phase of "customs clearance" arrangements, the West Kowloon Station of the High Speed Rail and the Luohu Port are temporarily closed.
However, the SAR government stated that the high-speed rail will resume operation no later than January 15, and after reviewing the overall situation in the first phase, it will increase the number of open ports and the number of people passing through the border every day.
Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Lee Ka-chao (third from right) led a group of SAR government officials to announce the details of "customs clearance" between Hong Kong and the Mainland on the 5th.
Photo by Chen Yongnuo
Hong Kong Transportation Industry: Welcome!
Since the news that the two places are expected to "clear customs", relevant industries in Hong Kong have started non-stop preparatory work.
"We are ready to provide services at any time." Lin Weiqiang, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions who is an MTR employee, told a reporter from China News Agency that in fact, in the days before "customs clearance", the maintenance of stations and rails and emergency response The drills arranged by the government have not stopped.
"Everyone is waiting, and we feel that the dawn is coming." In words, Lin Weiqiang lamented the difficulty of working and living under the epidemic, and at the same time was full of expectations for "passing the customs".
In the past two or three years, the new third runway of Hong Kong International Airport has been opened, and the newly completed "Sky Corridor" connects Terminal 1 and T1 Satellite Passenger Concourse.
This glass curtain wall corridor is the highest point of the airport that passengers can reach, and they can see the planes gliding past under their feet.
"We welcome passengers to experience the new facilities at the airport." Li Yongfu, a ground staff who has worked at the airport for more than 20 years and the chairman of the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Workers Union, told reporters that Hong Kong brings together Chinese and Western cultures, as well as challenging suburban areas. Hiking trails are not to be missed by visitors to Hong Kong.
After nearly 3 years, there is no need for isolation for personnel exchanges between the two places.
Cross-border families, Hong Kong people working hard in the Mainland, and "Hong Kong drifters" working in Hong Kong will soon reunite with their relatives and friends after a long absence.
Text reporter: Zeng Ping
Photographers: Chen Yongnuo, Li Zhihua