Huanggang Port subsidiary legislation paves way for ‘co-location’ clearance and expanded taxi access

Hong Kong’s Government Gazette on 24 July published three pieces of subsidiary legislation that establish the legal framework for the Hong Kong Port Area inside the redeveloped Huanggang Port in Shenzhen. The regulations authorise local immigration, customs and law-enforcement officers to operate within the shared building, enabling “co-location” clearance so travellers undergo both Hong Kong and mainland checks at one site on the Shenzhen side. The arrangement mirrors existing facilities at the West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The rules also allow detention quarters, search rooms and evidence-storage areas to be set up, ensuring officers can perform arrests and investigations under Hong Kong law even while physically located across the border. To facilitate onward travel, the “permitted area” for New Territories taxis has been broadened to cover all roads within the port precinct, a move welcomed by the taxi trade for opening new revenue streams once the port opens later this year. Huanggang was the busiest road checkpoint before the pandemic, processing more than 37 million passenger trips annually. Its overhaul is central to Beijing’s blueprint for an integrated Greater Bay Area, and officials expect the streamlined clearance to cut average passenger processing time from 45 minutes to under 20. Freight forwarders are lobbying for similar co-location treatment of cargo vehicles to reduce dwell time and paperwork. Businesses should start mapping new supply-chain routes and update staff travel guides. During the soft-launch phase, only pre-registered cross-boundary coaches, trade-specific trucks and passengers with electronic passports will be admitted. Employers should ensure mobile-workforce apps recognise the new port code (HGP) so that entry logs and expense claims are captured correctly.