Immigration Department personnel and simulated travelers take part in a drill at Man Kam To Control Point, Jan 5, 2022. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s Security Bureau led the disciplined services to conduct drills at three border control points on Thursday to ensure their smooth operation at the initial stage of the resumption of normal travel with the Chinese mainland.
The drills at Man Kam To, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line/Futian and Shenzhen Bay control points came in view of normal travel resumption on Sunday in an orderly manner, as announced by the central and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region governments on Thursday.
The Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department, the Transport Department, and MTR Corporation Limited participated in the drills, the government said in a statement.
Over 600 staff members were enlisted to simulate scenarios of more than 300 travelers arriving at control points by cross-boundary coaches, cross-boundary private cars or railway to test the efficiency of various units in handling the travelers.
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The drills simulated the triage procedure for the northbound passengers, including requiring them to present the proof of negative nucleic acid test results within 48 hours of the trip, and also present the proof of reservation if they are travelers requiring a reservation.
In this Jan 5, 2022 photo, simulated travelers cross the boundary in a private car at Man Kam To Control Point. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR
This photo shows personnel of the Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police Force as well as simulated travelers taking part in the drill at Man Kam To Control Point. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)
The drills also tested if the Hong Kong and mainland border personnel can maintain prompt and close communication to launch coordination mechanisms as necessary to tackle possible people and traffic congestions in the port areas.
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To better reflect the actual circumstances, the drills also simulated various scenarios including departing travelers failing to present all necessary supporting documents, outbound travelers exporting prohibited articles without a license etc.
The drills were conducted smoothly.
Immigration Department personnel and simulated travelers participate in a drill at Shenzhen Bay Control Point, Jan 5, 2022. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)
In this Jan 5, 2022 photo, Superintendent (Counter Terrorism and Internal Security Division) (Major Incidents Bureau), Tsang Ting-pan (first left); Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Boundary and Ports), Ida Ng (second left); Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Lui Kam-ho (center); Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Control and Enforcement), Chan Tsz-tat (second right); and Assistant Director (Control) of the Immigration Department, Choi Chi-yuen (first right) visit Shenzhen Bay Control Point to observe the exercise. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR)
The Security Bureau expects that it will take time for travelers to familiarize themselves with the arrangements at the initial stage of normal travel resumption with the mainland, including the presentation of required supporting documents, possible heavy people flows at control points.
Advised to wait with patience and heed advice of the working staff, travelers should make sure that they have brought all the required documents for inspection by staff at the control points, said the government.