The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, in collaboration with Shenzhen authorities, conducted a second cross-border stress test at Huanggang Port on August 29th, mobilizing over 20,000 civil servants to evaluate the facility's peak capacity in handling both foot and vehicle traffic. This extensive exercise comes as part of the final preparations to ensure a smooth and efficient opening of the port. The primary focus was on maximizing throughput under simulated high-volume conditions, with a particular emphasis on testing the fully integrated one-stop vehicle clearance process for the first time.

A key feature of this test was the inaugural activation of the joint one-stop lanes for vehicular clearance. To facilitate this, car clubs, community groups, and business associations were enlisted to help recruit privately-owned cars for the exercise. More than 1,000 cross-border loop trips were conducted to rigorously assess the new lanes, related systems, and overall traffic flow management. Vehicles participating in the drill followed instructions to approach the port via the new connector roads in batches, first stopping at pre-clearance booths for risk assessment. They then proceeded to the joint one-stop lanes for a five-agency inspection, where an all-in-one information collection kiosk captured temperature, identification document, facial, and fingerprint data. This process enabled participants to complete clearance procedures for the Shenzhen Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection Station, Shenzhen Customs, Hong Kong Customs, the Department of Health, and the Immigration Department of Hong Kong in a single stop. The drill also included scenarios where passengers had to get out of their cars to complete passenger inspection procedures and where specific vehicles were flagged at the pre-clearance booths for secondary inspections. After exiting the port, test vehicles returned to the Hong Kong port area via the vehicle inspection level on the Shenzhen side, completing the loop test cycle.

To rigorously test the port's capacity to handle sustained ultra-high passenger flow, the stress test involved more than 20,000 civil servants from over 70 government bureaus and departments. These participants were directed to arrive at the port via public transport, proceed through either the joint inspection self-service channels or manual counters, exit through the Hong Kong-side clearance, enter on the Shenzhen side, and then depart using vehicles provided by public transport operators. This process contributed to a loop test that included over 600 bus departures. The exercise specifically enhanced crowd "batch release" testing, deliberately funneling large groups of people through the port in several short bursts to generate intense pedestrian pressure. This simulated a peak-hour influx of inbound travelers arriving at Huanggang Port and dispersing through the public transport interchange to various modes of transport, including franchised buses, green minibuses, cross-boundary coaches, and taxis. This approach was designed to challenge and refine the coordination and management of both pedestrian and vehicular flows alongside supporting logistics.

Following the main drills, the Fire Services Department conducted a fire exercise simulating an electric vehicle catching fire. Firefighters from the Huanggang Fire Bureau responded by deploying water hoses, high-pressure spray nozzles, and fire blankets to extinguish the flames, while paramedics were also on hand to tend to simulated injuries. The Secretary for Security, Tang Ping-keung, visited the site to observe the proceedings. After the exercise, he held a meeting with participating departments to immediately review the processes and incorporate feedback from participants. Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities will hold further meetings to identify areas for optimization in cross-boundary crowd and traffic management, emergency response, and coordination mechanisms. The ultimate goal is to ensure the port is safe, smooth, and provides a positive experience for travelers, fully preparing it for its official opening.

To further facilitate travel for Hong Kong residents, both sides have agreed that Hong Kong residents holding both a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents and a Hong Kong Permanent Resident ID card or Hong Kong Non-Permanent Resident ID card can use either document at the first gate of the joint inspection self-service channels for both Hong Kong and Shenzhen entry and exit procedures, regardless of whether they are traveling north or south. Numerous government bureaus, departments, and agencies participated in the exercise, including the Security Bureau, Transport and Logistics Bureau, Civil Service Bureau, Police Force, Transport Department, Highways Department, Immigration Department, Customs and Excise Department, Department of Health, Fire Services Department, Architectural Services Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Government Property Agency, Digital Policy Office, Office of the Communications Authority, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Civil Aid Service, Auxiliary Medical Service, and various public transport operators.

Security Secretary Notes Smoother Flow Despite Doubling Participants

Speaking to the media on August 29th, Secretary Tang Ping-keung described the cross-border stress test at Huanggang Port as smooth, even with a participation number double that of the first drill. He noted that lessons learned from the previous exercise were applied, resulting in a more seamless process for the over 20,000 participants. The test mobilized around 20,000 civil servants from more than 70 bureaus and departments and also recruited 300 cross-border private cars and around 300 public transport vehicles. Mr. Tang highlighted this as a full-process stress test, with all 202 immigration counters fully operational, a significant increase from the roughly two-thirds used in the previous drill. He reported that the one-hour stress test involving 20,000 people, double the 10,000 from the first test, was conducted smoothly. The one-stop vehicle inspection lanes, incorporating a 'five-in-one' check, also performed well, demonstrating how customs officials would use detector dogs and X-ray vehicle inspection systems if a suspicious vehicle was identified.

Mr. Tang also pointed out that this test marked the first time the 1M and 3M levels were opened. The public transport interchange saw a stress test of about 600 vehicle movements in roughly an hour, a 20% increase from the previous drill. Based on previous experience, the layout of stops and queuing facilities at the interchange has been rearranged and enhanced. He acknowledged that Wi-Fi reception in some parts of the port could be slow when large crowds gather and stated that steps will definitely be taken to improve this. Furthermore, Mr. Tang added that authorities have coordinated with relevant central government bodies and Guangdong Province agencies. Once the port officially opens, travelers using the joint inspection self-service channels can present either their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents or their Hong Kong Identity Card for immigration clearance on both sides, providing greater convenience than before.

Chief Executive Emphasizes Preparedness for Port Opening

The Chief Executive, John Lee, noted the government's stress test at Huanggang Port on August 29th, which involved 20,000 civil servants to assess the port's operational capacity and endurance during peak times. The objective was to ensure safe, orderly operations and a good traveler experience. He mentioned that a previous drill on August 22nd involved 10,000 civil servants and tested crowd and vehicle flow, as well as the positioning of signage, calling it very effective. Over the past three weeks, authorities have conducted more than 80 tests and drills in various formats, each time summarizing lessons learned to improve overall operations and resource allocation. Mr. Lee said that Hong Kong and Shenzhen are cooperating and supporting each other, including through joint drills. He affirmed that once conditions are deemed sufficient and the port's overall operation is smooth, safe, and orderly, the port will be opened for public use as soon as possible.