Hong Kong’s Immigration Department announced on 11 June that two pilot “seamless e-channels” will go live at the Hong Kong checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) on 25 June, marking the first large-scale deployment of walk-through facial-recognition clearance in the Greater Bay Area. The lanes allow registered travellers to keep walking at normal pace while 3D cameras verify their identity against encrypted biometric templates, completing exit formalities in about five seconds—two seconds faster than existing e-gates. Eligibility is initially limited to permanent residents aged 11 or above who have used the HZMB at least ten times in the past 90 days. Registration can be completed via the “Contactless e-Channel” mobile app, which uploads a live selfie and passport or smart-ID data to the Immigration Department’s secure cloud. Officials estimate some 50,000 frequent bridge users—20 per cent of daily traffic—will qualify immediately, with plans to extend the system to visitors and other land checkpoints after a six-month evaluation.
While the new e-channels will speed up physical border crossings, travellers still need to ensure their documents and visas are in order. Services such as VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/china/) can manage Chinese visa applications from start to finish, provide real-time status tracking, and alert users to the latest rule changes—helping frequent HZMB commuters stay compliant without the hassle of embassy queues.
For corporate mobility managers, the upgrade means less queuing for staff shuttling between Hong Kong and Zhuhai manufacturing sites or Macau conference venues. Bus operators running point-to-point services across the world’s longest sea bridge expect boarding times to fall and schedules to tighten, reducing overtime costs. Logistics providers also see potential gains if the technology is adapted for driver clearance at the adjacent cargo terminal. The project illustrates China’s broader push toward “smart borders.” The National Immigration Administration’s five-year plan calls for nationwide deployment of AI/IoT solutions that raise throughput by 30 per cent while maintaining security. Vendors involved in the HZMB pilot include SenseTime for computer vision and Alibaba Cloud for edge processing—signalling opportunities for tech firms that can meet China’s strict data-localisation rules. Travellers concerned about privacy can opt out and use conventional channels, but authorities stress that biometric templates are stored in encrypted form within Hong Kong and deleted after the legal retention period. The Immigration Department will publish a post-launch data-protection report in Q4 2026.
While the new e-channels will speed up physical border crossings, travellers still need to ensure their documents and visas are in order. Services such as VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/china/) can manage Chinese visa applications from start to finish, provide real-time status tracking, and alert users to the latest rule changes—helping frequent HZMB commuters stay compliant without the hassle of embassy queues.
For corporate mobility managers, the upgrade means less queuing for staff shuttling between Hong Kong and Zhuhai manufacturing sites or Macau conference venues. Bus operators running point-to-point services across the world’s longest sea bridge expect boarding times to fall and schedules to tighten, reducing overtime costs. Logistics providers also see potential gains if the technology is adapted for driver clearance at the adjacent cargo terminal. The project illustrates China’s broader push toward “smart borders.” The National Immigration Administration’s five-year plan calls for nationwide deployment of AI/IoT solutions that raise throughput by 30 per cent while maintaining security. Vendors involved in the HZMB pilot include SenseTime for computer vision and Alibaba Cloud for edge processing—signalling opportunities for tech firms that can meet China’s strict data-localisation rules. Travellers concerned about privacy can opt out and use conventional channels, but authorities stress that biometric templates are stored in encrypted form within Hong Kong and deleted after the legal retention period. The Immigration Department will publish a post-launch data-protection report in Q4 2026.
