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The Government is making subsidiary legislation in preparation for the commissioning of the new control point at the Shenzhen Bay Port and the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, the fourth vehicular boundary crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
Under the Shenzhen Bay Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance, the Shenzhen Bay Port Hong Kong Port Area (HKPA), to be set up in the Shenzhen Bay Port and including the Hong Kong Clearance Area where the Shenzhen Bay Control Point (SBCP) is located and the Shenzhen section of the Bridge, will be administered as a closed area according to the laws of Hong Kong. This is the same as all the other land boundary control points in Hong Kong.
As a corollary of the HKPA closed area, the Closed Area (Hong Kong Section of the Shenzhen Bay Bridge and Deep Bay Link Portion) Order (the Order), made under the Public Order Ordinance, designates the Hong Kong section of the Shenzhen Bay Bridge leading to the HKPA and the related local road in the vicinity (the Deep Bay Link portion) as a closed area.
"The Hong Kong section of the Shenzhen Bay Bridge is outside the HKPA, but it is part of the bridge linking the HKPA with Hong Kong proper. Therefore, it is necessary to designate the Hong Kong section of the Bridge and the Deep Bay Link portion as a closed area for the purpose of efficient and effective management of the SBCP, including the maintenance of public order and public safety," a government spokesman said.
"The restriction will take effect on the day when the HKPA commences operation. Given the nature of the control point, the restriction will be on a round-the-clock basis," the spokesman said.
After the designation of the closed area, the Commissioner of Police has, by way of the Shenzhen Bay Port Hong Kong Port Area (Permission to Enter) Notice (the Notice) made under the Public Order Ordinance, granted general permission to persons entering or leaving Hong Kong via the new control point at the HKPA, and drivers of road vehicles and specified modes of public transport carrying those persons, to enter or leave the closed area consisting of the HKPA, the Hong Kong section of the Shenzhen Bay Bridge and the Deep Bay Link portion. The designated modes of public transport include urban and New Territories taxis, franchised buses on a specified route and public light buses running scheduled services.
This arrangement is similar to the operation of other land control points.
The Order and the Notice were gazetted today (May 4) and will be tabled at the Legislative Council next Wednesday (May 9). The Order will take effect on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Security by notice published in the Gazette, which will be the day on which the HKPA comes into operation. The Notice will also take effect when the HKPA comes into operation.
Hong Kong and Shenzhen are working towards commissioning the Shenzhen Bay Port within this year.
Ends/Friday, May 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:42
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