Donald Tsang visits immigration control posts on HK-Shenzhen boundary
( 2001-07-15 12:12 ) (8 )

Donald Tsang, administrative secretary for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, made surprise visits to immigration control posts on both sides of Hong Kong and the mainland city of Shenzhen Saturday afternoon.

He went there to personally experience clearance procedures at these busy crossing points.

Each day an average of almost 280,000 people cross the boundary at five immigration control points.

Lo Wu is the busiest one, handling an average of some 226,000 passengers each day during weekdays and over 263,000 on weekends and public holidays.

"These are huge figures and they are growing at a phenomenal rate. I wanted to see for myself how the processing of so many people was handled on both sides of the boundary," Tsang said.

Tsang took the train to Lo Wu and then proceeded through the immigration checkpoint as an ordinary Hong Kong resident along with other people crossing into the Chinese mainland this afternoon.

He returned to Hong Kong via Shenzhen's Huanggang boundary control point before taking the shuttle bus to the Lok Ma Chau immigration checkpoint, which is increasing in popularity as a major crossing point.

"This short visit has been real eye-opener. I am very impressed with the efficient and professional way the Immigration Department 's frontline staff can clear 97 percent of the passengers within the department's 30-minute waiting-time pledge," Tsang said.

Tsang said Hong Kong was already expanding facilities and exploring new ways to cater for the burgeoning economic activities between Hong Kong and the mainland.