10k civil servants to take part in Sat Huanggang drill

The Hong Kong government is set to ramp up preparations for the new Huanggang Port facility with a major stress test this Saturday. This test will involve 10,000 civil servants, double the number from previous exercises. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chris Tang, Secretary for Security, revealed that the drill will also serve as the first trial run for several advanced border clearance technologies.

This includes testing the e-channel for collaborative clearance and joint inspection, as well as the joint vehicle clearance checkpoint. While they may not use the machine itself, they will test the procedure for how it operates. This weekend's exercise is part of a series of readiness tests for the new crossing. It represents a 20 percent increase over the historical peak hourly clearance volume of 7,700 people.

Unlike previous tests, this event will include a broader scope, covering the entire immigration clearance process. The vehicle booths, previously only operationally tested, will now undergo rigorous stress testing. Authorities have reached out to automobile groups in hopes of securing around 1,000 vehicles to participate. A fourth test is already scheduled for August 29.