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

Hong Kong has successfully carried out its inaugural large-scale drill at the newly revamped Huanggang border crossing. The operation, which involved approximately 1,000 civil servants from more than 20 government departments, saw participants using public transport to navigate the facility, enter and exit the port building, and follow on-site guidance.

The exercise was designed to evaluate the smooth management of passenger and vehicular flows, capacity of passageways, guidance arrangements, traffic control, and supporting measures at the port building and its public transport interchange. Both the Secretary for Security, Chris Tang Ping-keung, and the Transport Minister, Mable Chan, inspected the drill and expressed satisfaction with the arrangements.

However, they also noted areas for improvement, such as unclear signage and potential enhancements to queuing flow. The drill included over 120 simulated movements of people and vehicles, with the Transport Department confirming that cross-border coach services and public transport services are operational at the new Huanggang Port.

The port, which has a co-location and joint-clearance model, will enable travelers to clear immigration through a single queue, eliminating the need for shuttle buses between checkpoints. The facility, located on the site of the former clearance building in Shenzhen’s Futian district, is expected to become the only 24-hour border crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Future drills, involving between 5,000 and 20,000 participants, are planned to further assess the border crossing's capabilities. The exact opening date for the border crossing has not been disclosed, but both governments have stated their commitment to finalizing a date once the port is deemed safe and smooth for operation.