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SCMP Reporter

Hong Kong residents who have given mainland authorities the appropriate details can now use a fully computerised clearance system at the Lowu checkpoint to visit Shenzhen.

Three automated clearance channels were opened by Shenzhen  yesterday, allowing people who have registered their fingerprints and facial features  to use them to cross the  border.

They need only insert their home-return permits into the machines, followed by a fingerprint scan and facial recognition test to complete the process, which takes about 10 seconds.

Shenzhen border checkpoint office director Shi Jian   said they hoped to reduce the time required to complete the process to six seconds.

The automated system would be installed at other checkpoints later, he said.

'Now, it's not much faster than the conventional method because people are still learning how to operate the machines,' Mr Shi said. 'We hope eventually it will save passengers time and raise our efficiency.'

He brushed aside privacy concerns and said they had a sophisticated system to safeguard information submitted by Hong Kong residents.

'We have clear guidelines to prevent abuse. Such worries are not necessary,' the checkpoint director added.

More than 20,000 Hong Kong people have registered their physical details with mainland customs officials but the director said Hong Kong residents could choose not to  use the system.

Many people using the automated system yesterday said it was convenient and safe.

Hong Kong traveller Chan Hung-wen  said: 'It's not faster, but more convenient. And it's better than the e-channel system on the Hong Kong side because it also has a facial recognition test. So there is less risk of criminals using other people's permits to cross the border.'

But some people complained of insufficient instructions on how to operate the machines.

'There is no signal to tell me how long I should put my thumb on the scanner and if the scan is successful. The Hong Kong system is better in this regard as it's very clear,' traveller Hui Li-man said.

Shenzhen authorities said the automated clearance system could eventually speed up the border-crossing process by 30 per cent.

The flow of travellers between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is increasing steadily, with Shenzhen saying 150 million people crossed the border last year, an 18 per cent increase on 2003.

The  system was  designed by a Shenzhen  technology company specialising in facial recognition.



Lowu opens counters for automatic clearance