China News Agency, Hong Kong, January 8th, title: "Customs Clearance" Crowd Shows People's Aspirations
China News Agency reporter Xiang Luping
After nearly three years, Hong Kong and the Mainland ushered in the first phase of quarantine-free "customs clearance" on the 8th.
The crowds at the deserted checkpoints under the epidemic reappeared, and the excitement of the people who rushed to pass the checkpoints on the first day could not be concealed. This "reunion after a long absence" on the eve of the Spring Festival is undoubtedly the hope and aspiration of the people of the two places.
On January 8, Hong Kong and the mainland officially "cleared customs", and a large number of tourists took the subway to enter Shenzhen from the reopened Lok Ma Chau Station through the port.
The picture shows passengers waiting at the port.
Photo by Li Zhihua
In the past more than a thousand days and nights, whenever the epidemic situation improved, expectations and calls for "customs clearance" between the two places would appear, but many times there was no follow-up, and the helpless couples in different places could only look at each other silently across the Shenzhen River, making gestures Say hello to each other.
By the time the new coronavirus mutated into an Omicron virus strain with a greatly weakened morbidity rate, the new crown vaccine developed by scientists with all their efforts was widely used. See the dawn.
When the objective conditions were ripe, the mainland announced the optimization of the "New Ten Measures" for epidemic prevention. After returning to Hong Kong, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Lee Ka-chao, returned to Hong Kong for the first time to Beijing to report on his duties, and brought back the central government's agreement to "clear customs" before mid-January this year. This means that many people separated the two places. Families can reunite in the Chinese New Year of the Year of the Rabbit.
The first phase of the "customs clearance" plan that the relevant units of the two places are intensively deploying is safe and orderly, and the number of quotas exceeds outside expectations. The daily number of two-way customs clearance at the 7 open sea, land and air ports can reach 120,000 people. On a weekly basis, it is theoretically possible. 840,000 people from the two places realized quarantine-free exchanges.
Quotas are in place. Although the number of people passing through the border is far less than the peak period before the epidemic, it is believed that the needs of visiting relatives and business can still be met in the initial stage. At the same time, the arrangement for residents of the two places to return to the local area without restrictions is also a convenience for the people.
After figuring out and smoothing the "customs clearance" process and replenishing manpower in a timely manner, the relevant units in the two places should expand the flow of "customs clearance" as soon as possible to further respond to the needs of the public.
On January 8, in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, passengers entered Zhuhai after customs clearance at the Zhuhai Highway Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
On the same day, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus between Hong Kong and Zhuhai resumed 24-hour operation, and the number of flights increased to 168.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Chen Jimin
According to data released by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, as of 6:00 p.m. on January 7, more than 410,000 people have left Hong Kong for the mainland through online appointments.
In just two days, Hong Kong people made appointments so enthusiastically, which shows the strong demand for returning to the mainland.
Today, "customs clearance" has been accomplished, and entry quarantine has become a "past tense".
"Passing through customs" is about people's hearts.
Even in the Internet age, people have many ways to connect with each other, but the virtual communication across the screen is ultimately incomparable to the intimate face-to-face interaction.
So on the first day of "customs clearance", we saw our reunited relatives and friends hugging each other happily at Futian Port.
"Customs clearance" refers to the economy.
Needless to say, the impact of the epidemic of the century on the global economy, Hong Kong, as an export-oriented economy, bears the brunt.
"Customs clearance" will revive the vitality of Hong Kong's tourism, retail, hotel and other industries, and will also boost the confidence of global investors in Hong Kong's core advantage of connecting the mainland and the world.
"Customs clearance" is a new future for the integration and development of the two places.
Hong Kong has encountered many challenges in recent years, but with the strong support of the central government, it has successfully survived.
Now that the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is no longer blocked by human traffic and logistics, a new future in which Hong Kong is further integrated into the overall development of the country is bound to accelerate.
The economy and people's livelihood are so difficult under the epidemic. It is hoped that the "customs clearance" of the two places will sweep away the haze of the past.
(Finish)