Hong Kong’s new Huanggang Port seemingly quiet ahead of expected holiday rush

Hong Kong's newly upgraded Huanggang Port is set to handle over 100,000 passenger trips daily during the upcoming three-day Chung Yeung Festival holiday, according to officials. However, the departure hall seemed relatively calm on a Saturday morning. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung reported that the port had been running smoothly since its opening on Monday, processing approximately 80,000 passenger trips daily, with Friday reaching 92,000 trips.

This is a significant increase from the pre-reconstruction levels of 30,000 to 40,000 trips. Tang stated that the port's maximum capacity is at least 200,000 trips, ensuring it can handle the expected influx. Additional staff will be deployed to manage automated and manual clearance channels, and public transport points will be staffed to prevent congestion.

Waiting times were reported to be under five minutes, with some passengers experiencing near-zero wait times. Despite the significant increase in passenger volume, Tang emphasized that overall efficiency has improved by at least fourfold, making the process four times faster. Over 300,000 residents have registered for joint clearance through a mobile app, streamlining the departure and entry processes.

On Saturday, a South China Morning Post reporter observed that travelers arriving by bus from across Hong Kong moved quickly into the departure hall, with minimal queues at border control gates. Local residents, like Yan Li and Michael Leung, highlighted the cost-effectiveness and convenience of the Huanggang Port route compared to the previous Lo Wu port.

Despite challenges such as rising fuel prices and a decline in short-haul tourist arrivals from Southeast Asia, Hong Kong's tourism sector remains confident due to upcoming mega-events attracting long-haul visitors throughout the year.