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Shenzhen Bay Port and Bridge to commence operation on July 1 (with photos and video)
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    The Shenzhen Bay Port and the Shenzhen Bay Bridge - also known as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor - will commence operation on Sunday (July 1, 2007).

     "The Shenzhen Bay Port will be officially opened after a ceremony at noon on July 1, and passenger and cargo clearance facilities will be opened for public use from 6pm," a spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government said today (June 25).

     "The Shenzhen Bay Port will initially run for 17.5 hours a day, from 6.30am to midnight. Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides will assess when to provide a 24-hour service after the Port has been in operation for some time," the spokesman said.

     To allow sufficient time for the clearance of passengers and vehicles before the closure of the Shenzhen Bay Port at midnight, the Shenzhen Bay Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic at 11.30pm every night, including July 1.  Cross-boundary drivers and passengers should allow sufficient travelling time when planning their journeys.

     When the Shenzhen Bay Port is commissioned, passengers can cross the boundary through the new crossing by taking cross-boundary coaches, franchised buses, green minibuses or taxis.

     Hong Kong's immigration and customs facilities will be co-located with those of the Mainland at the Shenzhen Bay Port under the co-location arrangement, the first of its kind to be implemented at control points.

     Under the co-location arrangement at the new control point, coach passengers will only have to get on and off once instead of twice in going through clearance procedures of the two sides, thereby shortening the clearance time by about five to 10 minutes for each traveller.

     Hong Kong and Shenzhen are making final preparations for the commissioning of the Shenzhen Bay Port and Shenzhen Bay Bridge.

     Various departments and units from Hong Kong and Shenzhen have conducted joint trial runs and drills to familiarise themselves with the operation of this new infrastructure.

     Starting from July 1 (the day on which the Shenzhen Bay Port begins operation), the HKSAR will exercise jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Port Area at the Shenzhen Bay Port according to the laws of Hong Kong and administer that area as a closed area.  The HKSAR Government will, by notice published in the Gazette, bring the Shenzhen Bay Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance and the Closed Area (Hong Kong Section of the Shenzhen Bay Bridge and Deep Bay Link Portion) Order into full operation on July 1.  Following the Shenzhen Bay Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance, all other subsidiary legislation catering for the Hong Kong Port Area will also come into operation on July 1.

     The 5.5 kilometre-long Shenzhen Bay Bridge is the fourth vehicular boundary crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.  It links the new control point at the Shenzhen Bay Port in Shekou with Ngau Hom Shek in the northwest New Territories.

     It is expected that two-way daily traffic and passenger flows will be 29,800 vehicles and 30,800 passengers during the initial period of opening. The anticipated traffic and passenger flows will increase to some 60,300 vehicles and 61,300 passengers each day in 2016.

Ends/Monday, June 25, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:00

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