SAR expresses thanks over Huanggang approval

The SAR government on Friday thanked the central government for their staunch support after the National People’s Congress Standing Committee passed a bill to establish the Hong Kong side of the Huanggang Port. The bill authorises the SAR to exercise jurisdiction over its side of the redeveloped port, which will include the Hong Kong Port Area, the Shenzhen section of the Lok Ma Chau Bridge that connects to the port, the interior of the bridge box girders accessible via the bridge deck, and the surfaces of the connecting roads. The SAR government will be able to manage the area through a lease, with a term that will run from the port’s commencement date until June 30, 2047. On the expiry of the term, it can be renewed upon a decision by the NPC standing committee. In a statement, authorities said this decision fully reflects the central authorities' high regard and support for Hong Kong's integration into the country's development. “It is of great strategic significance for strengthening the infrastructure connectivity between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, enhancing interactions between the people of, and economic and trade activities between the two places, as well as advancing the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” it read. The authorities said the redeveloped Huanggang port will be positioned as the most important round-the-clock land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Under the co-location arrangement, as well as the collaborative inspection and joint clearance mode, the overall clearance time will be drastically shortened to about five minutes from the existing 30 minutes at the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port. Daily passenger trips will increase to 200,000, the government said, adding the figure will go up to 300,000 when the MTR's Northern Link Spur Line opens. Edited by Aaron Tam