Just a short walk for visitors through joint customs system

Cross-border travellers in the Shenzhen Western Corridor face only a short walk between the Hong Kong and mainland immigration checkpoints at the new 'one location, two inspections' facility approved by Beijing.

Unlike other road border crossings, people will only have to get out of the vehicles once to go through immigration procedures after passing through the joint customs and immigration building in Shekou. At present travellers must leave their vehicles twice.

Director of Immigration Lai Tung-kwok said travellers would have a similar experience at the Lo Wu rail crossing, with the checkpoints separated by no more than 80 metres.

Mr Lai said the Hong Kong side would have more than 30 e-channels for self-service immigration clearance and more than 50 clearance counters. Recruitment of about 300 new officers for the Immigration Department for the new checkpoint had started.

Commissioner of Customs and Excise Timothy Tong Hin-ming said earlier that his department would hire 700 people to handle the customs duties at the new checkpoint.

The bill, approved by the National People's Congress Standing Committee on Tuesday, marks the first time Hong Kong jurisdiction has been extended across the border.