Hong Kong’s Lands Department has begun resuming 25 privately held lots—totalling just over one hectare—around the Sha Tau Kok Control Point to pave the way for a complete redevelopment of the remote eastern crossing into Shenzhen. The acquisition, announced on 17 September, is scheduled to take effect on 18 December and will allow construction crews to convert the site into a passenger-only control point operating under a “collaborative inspection, joint clearance” model similar to that used at the West Kowloon high-speed-rail terminus. Under the proposed design, Sha Tau Kok will handle up to 40,000 passenger trips a day—roughly triple its pre-pandemic volumes. Officials say the new layout will separate foot and vehicle traffic, widen departure and arrival halls, and embed e-Channel gates that support facial-recognition and NFC passports. When completed, the control point will give eastern New Territories residents and logistics operators a faster alternative to the busy Man Kam To and Liantang crossings. For multinational employers with workforces split between Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Huizhou, a higher-capacity Sha Tau Kok promises shorter commute times and more reliable just-in-time delivery windows. It is also expected to help defuse weekend congestion at the new Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai link, which has become a popular route for cross-border coaches serving industrial parks in eastern Guangdong. Developers eyeing the Northern Metropolis have welcomed the move, saying smoother clearance will raise the area’s appeal for expatriate housing and research campuses. The government has yet to release a construction timetable, but industry sources expect phased works to start in early 2027 with full commissioning around 2030. Affected landowners will be offered statutory compensation, and a temporary passenger facility will operate during the build to ensure continuity of service.
Source: news.gov.hk
