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Olga Wong

Checkpoints likely to come under one roof
The Development Bureau and its counterpart in Shenzhen are preparing for a joint effort to build a  'back-to-back' border crossing in the eastern New Territories, as a planning study  including road links on the Hong Kong side nears completion.
According to government sources, the checkpoints between Heung Yuen Wai  in Hong Kong and Liantang  in Shenzhen could be integrated into one building, although vehicles would still have to pass through two separate checks.
Planning details are expected to be announced after Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor  meets the head of the Shenzhen municipal government on Monday. They  will also discuss possible  uses of the Lok Ma Chau Loop.
The  crossing will provide a quick link between Hong Kong's urban areas via the Tolo Highway and Route 8 - now under construction - and Shenzhen's eastern corridor, which leads to industrial cities including Huizhou  and  Huiyang .
A joint study with  Shenzhen was launched two years ago to explore the need, function and benefits of developing the  control point, between existing road crossings at Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok.
The Planning Department also began a study last year into the traffic, environmental and engineering impact of the  crossing,  to identify land to be acquired and road plans.
Development Bureau sources said  at least one village would be affected by a  road, adding that land acquisition could be required.
'We have more than one option,' a source said. 'If land acquisition is not applicable, we can adjust the alignment of the connecting road, narrow it or protect the village with noise barriers.
'The new control points of both sides will be built back-to-back,  but inspections of both sides will be carried out separately.'
The shortage of land in Shenzhen is the reason for ruling out separate buildings,  the source added.
'If the mainland inspection is to take place on the Hong Kong side, it might violate the Basic Law,' the source said, adding that mainland officers were not allowed to execute their duties in Hong Kong under the law.
'As an alternative, the two checkpoints could be connected ... to shorten the distance between the two,' the source said.
Existing control points at Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok provide limited  capacity for trucks,  according to the Hong Kong 2030 study, which said they were constrained by location and the capacity of  road links.
A Heung Yuen Wai village representative said  officials had approached them about land acquisition. He said most of the  residents were elderly and they hoped  younger  people would return to the village when the  border crossing improved  accessibility.
Leung Kong-yui, president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, said the sector hoped the  crossing  improves access  to cargo sites.
Boosting the flow
The Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai checkpoint will be connected with the city's highway network, giving access to the airport



Integrated crossing plan with Shenzhen