Acting CE inspects first-day full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and Mainland at Lo Wu Control Point (6.2.2023)
6.2.2023

The Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, inspected the Lo Wu Control Point this morning (February 6) to learn about the situation of the first-day full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland. He was briefed by on-site staff on the work of resumption of normal travel on various fronts and talked to members of the public. Other officials present included the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; and the Under Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk. Mr Chan said that, since the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland today, all boundary control points (BCPs) have commenced operation without any prescribed daily number of people or pre-departure nucleic acid test requirement imposed. Cross-boundary travel by people of the two places has fully resumed as normal. With the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's full co-operation with organisations of the relevant sectors, and its close liaison with the relevant authorities of the Central Government, the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government, all seaborne, land and air BCPs, including the newly opened ones, have been in good operation overall. Suitable arrangements on local transport to and from the BCPs have been put in place. As at noon today, around 83 000 passengers in total travelled through land BCPs. Of them, around 50 000 passengers departed from Hong Kong and around 33 000 passengers entered Hong Kong. During the inspection, Mr Chan received a briefing by colleagues of the relevant departments at the Lo Wu Control Point on the triage procedures for outbound travellers, the Immigration Department's immigration clearance services, and the Customs and Excise Department's customs clearance arrangements for travellers. He was pleased to learn that the BCP has been in good operation. He instructed colleagues of the relevant departments to monitor the passenger flow closely and conduct proper crowd management control, especially on such days as Saturdays, Sundays and holidays when there is generally a larger number of cross-boundary travellers, to ensure the operation of the BCPs in a safe, orderly and smooth manner. On transport arrangements, Mr Chan instructed the relevant departments at BCPs to maintain close contact with various public transport operators to ensure sufficient public transport services to carry travellers to and from the BCPs during opening hours. He also reminded them to maintain close co-operation with the MTR Corporation and closely monitor the flows of people and actual situations at the Lo Wu Control Point and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. When necessary, passenger management measures should be implemented and the frequency of rail services adjusted for better diversion of passengers, ensuring public safety and order in the MTR stations and BCPs concerned. Also, Mr Chan talked to members of the public and was pleased to learn that they were satisfied with the convenient and smooth arrangements of normal travel. He instructed staff on duty at the BCP to continue the provision of necessary information and appropriate assistance for travellers. For instance, they should continue to assist those travellers yet to complete the health declaration as per the Mainland's requirements to do so before crossing the boundary. The relevant government departments have put up a Smart Guide to Passenger Clearance at BCPs and made manpower arrangements, with a view to reminding travellers to complete the declaration in advance. The HKSAR Government strongly recommends that all travellers departing from Hong Kong to the Mainland complete the Mainland health declaration form online, or via WeChat, before their arrival at BCPs, such that the time of the clearance process can be shortened and congestion due to travellers not completing the relevant procedures until upon arrival avoided. Mr Chan expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all personnel who have worked hard on the full resumption of normal travel while upholding professionalism and efficiency. He stressed that the Co-ordination Group on Resumption of Normal Travel, jointly with the relevant bureaux, departments and organisations, will continue to monitor in detail the operation of the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and maintain close liaison with the relevant authorities of the Central Government, the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government, to ensure the continuously smooth implementation of the full resumption. Ends/Monday, February 6, 2023 Issued at HKT 16:48 NNNN