Kai Tak tests seen as way to go in Huanggang opening

The government will take reference from tests conducted ahead of the Kai Tak Sports Park opening to prepare for Huanggang port's coming onstream, Secretary for Security Chris Tang said on Saturday. He was speaking a day after lawmakers passed the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Bill. Tang told a radio show that the government will open the round-the-clock port as soon as possible following a series of tests. These include ensuring machines and systems work properly and that the boundary-crossing experience is a smooth one and roads will not be congested even when there are a lot of travellers. “In fact, we have drawn on experience garnered from the opening-up of large-scale infrastructure projects in the past, Tang said. "For example, we did a lot of testing ahead of the Kai Tak Sports Park's opening and everyone agrees it was very smooth. "If we look back at the opening of Chek Lap Kok airport years ago, the situation was relatively chaotic. “We have learnt from experience and we think that the citizens' experience in crossing the border is of utmost importance.” The port will be commissioned on July 31, but officials have yet to announce when it will be open to the public. Tang stressed that even though lawmakers gave the green light for the co-location arrangement for both departure and arrival checks at the crossing in a special meeting, there was no sloppiness during the vetting process. Scheduling the special meeting was an isolated incident, he said, adding that the government had yet to come up with the necessary subsidiary pieces of legislation for arrangements such as restricted areas for the public to cross the boundary as well as the pick-up and drop-off points for taxis. Edited by Azam Khan