Smooth opening for Huanggang port: govt

The redevelopment of Huanggang port officially opened on Monday morning, with officials reporting a smooth start to operations. Chief Secretary Eric Chan expressed optimism, stating that the first day of the port's reopening would be relatively calm, allowing staff to become familiar with its operations. Chan noted that the timing of the opening, just after the National Day holiday, would help limit visitor numbers and facilitate staff training.

According to Secretary for Security Chris Tang, the newly renovated port saw a 60 percent increase in traffic during the first two hours after its 6:30 am opening, with over 5,000 people and nearly 1,000 vehicles passing through. Traffic flowed smoothly, with self-service inspection channels operating without delays, and joint one-stop lanes for vehicles experiencing minimal waiting times.

A joint command centre was established with Shenzhen authorities to ensure seamless operations across the border. Tang highlighted that the port's success with the collaborative inspection and joint clearance model could pave the way for similar initiatives at other border checkpoints. Transport chief Mable Chan emphasized the importance of contingency plans as public transport carried more than 3,000 individuals to and from the port in the initial hours.

She also mentioned that arrangements would be made to accommodate around 200 vehicles in a buffer area for the upcoming Chung Yeung Festival long weekend, anticipating increased travel.