The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee and a group of 14 Legislative Council Members went on a study visit to Shenzhen Bay Port in Shekou today (March 17) to see for themselves the facilities at the Hong Kong Port Area and the Shenzhen Bay Bridge (also known as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor).

     The group includes members mostly from the Bills Committee on Shenzhen Bay Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill. The other members are from relevant Legislative Council Panels.

     The co-location arrangement will be implemented at the Shenzhen Bay Port where Hong Kong's customs and immigration facilities will be co-located with those of the Mainland.
 
     The group first toured the Passenger Terminal Building where representatives from the Architectural Services Department and the Immigration Department briefed them on construction works and facilities such as clearance counters and e-channels respectively.

     They also visited the cross-boundary coach pick-up/drop-off area and the public transport interchange at the Hong Kong Port Area. Transport Department officials explained to them the layout of the facilities and public transport services to be provided there.

     The group also inspected the Goods Clearance Area where Hong Kong Customs representatives briefed them on one-stop clearance arrangements. They then listened to briefings by officers from the Police and Fire Services Department on the facilities at the Police Building and Fire Services Building.

     The visit ended with a walkabout at the Shenzhen Bay Bridge. Highways Department representatives introduced to them the maintenance and traffic flow arrangements on the bridge.

     "The study visit will let our legislators gain first-hand understanding of the progress of the new infrastructural project and the co-location arrangement, which is the first of its kind to be implemented at control points. It will provide convenient and efficient services to passengers and vehicles in a better environment. Coach passengers will only have to get on and off once in going through clearance procedures of Hong Kong and the Mainland. Each traveller can save the clearance time by about five to 10 minutes," Mr Lee said.

     "The new cross-boundary infrastructural project will facilitate the flow of people and cargoes across the boundary and enhance the status of Hong Kong as a regional business, trade and logistic hub," he said.

     "We expect that the two-way daily traffic and passenger flows will be 29,800 vehicles and 30,800 passengers respectively during the initial period of opening.  The anticipated traffic and passenger flows will increase to some 60,300 vehicles and 61,300 passengers each day in 2016," he added.

     On arrival at the Shekou project site this morning, the group was met by the Vice-Director of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Western Corridor Project Office, Mr Li Rongqiang. The Secretary for Security thanked the project office for assisting in organising the visit.

     A Legislative Council Bills Committee is scrutinising a Bill that will provide a legal basis for the setting up of a Hong Kong Port Area inside the Shenzhen Bay Port.

     The new control point at the Shenzhen Bay Port will link Ngau Hom Shek in the Northwest New Territories through the Shenzhen Bay Bridge to Shekou. It will be the fourth vehicular boundary crossing between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Hong Kong and Shenzhen are making best endeavours to commission the Shenzhen Bay Port in mid-2007.

     The list of Legislative Council Members taking part in the study visit is at Annex.

Ends/Saturday, March 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:18

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