The latest move to facilitate clearance for cross-boundary travelers between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions will boost exchanges and deepen integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, officials and travelers said.
Starting Wednesday, eligible travelers can go through Shenzhen Bay Port in Shenzhen and Gongbei Port in Zhuhai without the need to show their certificates. Instead, they can cross the border by undergoing fingerprint and facial checks.
According to the National Immigration Administration, mainland residents aged 14 and above, who have a valid travel document to Hong Kong and Macao, as well as an endorsement for multiple entry to the two SARs are entitled to enjoy the new service. Individuals holding a travel visa or those with a permit for exit and entry for public affairs are not eligible to do so.
The service is also applicable to Hong Kong and Macao residents aged 14 and above who have a valid mainland travel permit, including non-Chinese citizens.
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The service aims to simplify clearance procedures for travelers and enhance clearance efficiency at ports. It is expected to improve travelers’ clearance experience, boost exchanges between the mainland and the two SARs and help promote integrated development in the GBA, said Chen Qi, an official from Shenzhen Bay inspection station of Shenzhen General Station of Immigration Inspection (SGSII).
The move comes as cross-boundary travel between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has been rising as collaboration and exchanges in commerce, technology, culture and other fields between the two cities are enhanced.
Statistics from the SGSII show 26.22 million exit and entry inspections at Shenzhen Bay checkpoint this year as of Sept 10, surpassing the total number for all of last year. Among them, 8.7 million were mainland residents, 16.84 million were Hong Kong and Macao residents, and 548,000 were foreigners, growing 56 percent, 70.1 percent and 92.9 percent year-on-year respectively.
“I have used the certificate-free clearance mode twice today, in the morning when I traveled from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and in the afternoon when I returned,” Hong Kong retiree Tang Lok said.
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“It only took about 10 seconds to go through the immigration, cutting the time by a half. The whole process was quite smooth,” he said, adding that he travels to Shenzhen twice a month, normally with his friends for entertainment.
The trend of Hong Kong people heading to Shenzhen to dine, shop and entertain continues to grow. According to the Hong Kong Immigration Department, Hong Kong residents made 44.66 million trips to the Chinese mainland in the first half of the year. The number was 53 million for the whole of 2023.
Hu Jiao, who works at a telecommunication company in Hong Kong and lives in Shenzhen, said the facilitation measure is beneficial for travelers like her who have to commute between the two sides every day.
“It is a favorable move that follows the trend of integration and contributes to the achievement of a one-hour living circle in the GBA,” she said.
Authorities said the new service in the two ports is currently a pilot operation and will gradually be expanded to other ports.
