An exterior view of the new Huanggang Checkpoint in Futian District, Shenzhen. Photos by Hong Kong Commercial Daily

The new Huanggang Checkpoint will officially begin operations at 6:30 a.m. Oct. 12, providing round-the-clock immigration clearance services for passengers and passenger vehicles, according to a joint announcement issued by the Port Office of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s security bureau today.

The checkpoint's new joint inspection building has passed its acceptance inspections. Authorities in Shenzhen and Hong Kong have also completed system testing, trial operations and emergency drills, confirming that the checkpoint is ready to open.

The Hong Kong area of the new Huanggang Checkpoint and its associated extension areas were approved for use from midnight July 31, and will operate under the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with Hong Kong law.

With the opening of the new facility, passenger inspection services at Shenzhen’s temporary Huanggang Checkpoint inspection building and Hong Kong’s Lok Ma Chau Control Point will be suspended.

Participants take part in a passenger-flow stress test at the Hong Kong port area of the new Huanggang Checkpoint on Aug. 22.

Positioned as a dedicated passenger border-crossing facility, the new Huanggang Checkpoint will operate around the clock. It has a total floor area of approximately 689,700 square meters, with 134 self-service inspection channels and 68 manual inspection counters.

The checkpoint will adopt an innovative “one location, two inspections” system under which travelers will need to present their travel documents only once to complete immigration procedures for both Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The fastest processing time at the automated channels is expected to be about 20 seconds.

The checkpoint is designed to handle up to 300,000 passengers a day during peak periods.

Located in Futian District and adjacent to the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, the new Huanggang Checkpoint will have a direct underground connection to Metro Line 7. The Qianhai-Huanggang Checkpoint section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Intercity Railway, which is under construction, will also terminate at the checkpoint.