Speaking on a radio programme, Tang said the new port is handling about 83,000 passengers on ordinary days – more than double the volume of the old crossing.
During the long weekend holiday period, the average daily figure reached 130,000, with the busiest period around midday on the Saturday, seeing waits of up to one hour from alighting to completing clearance, he said.
“On the 17th, the number of people exiting was nine times higher than normal. Usually, during peak hours, the wait is 15 minutes; now, it’s nine times longer than peak hours – if you calculate it that way, you might have to wait two hours. Also, don’t forget that this time, our border crossing allows direct entry into the mainland. Previously, after exiting Hong Kong, you still had to queue again on the mainland,” he said.
Tang stressed that the “one-stop” inspection system still makes the process faster than before, as travellers only need to go through a single check.
The minister identified several areas for improvement, saying some travellers have not pre-registered for e-channel services, and children under seven must use manual counters. He said the authorities would learn from the experience and step up crowd management.
On arrangements for non-Chinese passport holders, Tang said the mainland side requires them to fill in forms, and Hong Kong authorities have been assisting travellers in completing the paperwork while they wait.
Tang noted that the new crossing can open up to 90 departure counters – 60 e-channels and 30 manual counters. However, the manual counters require staff on both the SAR and the mainland sides to operate simultaneously.
The minister thanked frontline staff for their hard work, acknowledging they are under immense pressure and have had to cancel leave. He said the authorities have deployed additional manpower and extended working hours where necessary.
On next month’s Apec summit in Shenzhen, Tang said if any Very Important Persons travel via Hong Kong, security preparations must be thorough, though the impact on ordinary citizens is expected to be minimal.
He said the authorities will guard against anyone using Hong Kong as a gateway to enter the mainland for illegal activities, and will also watch for drone activity aimed at disrupting the summit.