Hong Kong holds first large-scale drill at revamped Huanggang border crossing

Hong Kong carried out its inaugural large-scale drill at the upgraded Huanggang border crossing, with authorities proclaiming traffic operations at the site to be seamless. Approximately 1,000 civil servants from over 20 departments participated in Thursday's drill, tasked with utilizing public transportation to reach the revamped Huanggang Port in the Hong Kong port region, enter the port structure, and depart via similar means.

Officials declared the exercise aimed at evaluating passenger and vehicle movement, passage capacities, on-site guidance systems, traffic regulation, and ancillary measures at the port structure and its public transport interchange. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung and transport minister Mable Chan observed the drill and both declared satisfaction with the arrangements.

"The entire process was largely smooth and controllable," Tang remarked. However, they also identified certain areas for improvement, such as unclear signage and queuing flow enhancements. The drill involved more than 120 departures to mimic the influx of people and vehicles entering and exiting the port. The Transport Department announced that cross-border coach services and public transportation services were prepared for the new Huanggang Port.

Seven franchised bus routes, six minibus routes, taxis, and shuttles would operate at the new site. Cross-border coaches would transport passengers to areas including Mong Kok, Austin, Kwun Tong, Wan Chai, and Tsuen Wan. The restored Huanggang Port, located where the old clearance building once stood in Shenzhen’s Futian district, employs a co-location and joint-clearance approach.

This layout enables travelers to clear immigration through a single queue, obviating the need to transfer between shuttle buses at checkpoints. Huanggang Port will become the sole 24-hour border crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Thursday marked the first significant drill since the port's inception on July 31. Future drills are anticipated to include 5,000 to 20,000 participants.

The announcement did not specify an exact opening date, stating that "getting the port ready for opening at an early date" is a shared objective for the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong. "Once both sides confirm the port is ready for safe and smooth operation, the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments will finalize the official opening date and promptly inform the public," the government stated.

Shenzhen authorities conducted a passenger-flow drill and an escalator stress test at the building on Tuesday.