Shenzhen's Lowu border checkpoints have begun taking photos and the fingerprints of visitors from Hong Kong and Macau for the automated clearance system set to be introduced from the middle of next month.
Mainland immigration authorities have been collecting the visitors' physical details since Sunday to establish a database for the new system.
Three automated clearance channels will be run at the checkpoint on a trial basis from June 15.
The system is expected to shorten the time taken to clear immigration from 20 seconds to eight.
It will initially apply to Hong Kong and Macau residents with home-return permits.
Visitors are offered an authorisation form to sign when crossing the Lowu border. With their consent, fingerprints are taken from both hands and photographs taken of both sides of the face.