After field inspections on 19 October, members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council are demanding an urgent manpower audit for the newly-opened Huanggang Port, arguing that the facility’s staffing model underestimated peak-season demand. The call comes after Sunday’s record 152,068 crossings left some travellers waiting nearly two hours, with several automated gates temporarily offline because of overload. In a panel session on public security, legislators pointed to reports of only 430 immigration officers being rostered across five floors of clearance halls—barely enough, they say, to maintain safe queuing ratios when passenger throughput tops 150,000 a day. They also criticised the port’s bilingual way-finding system, noting that first-time visitors could not distinguish between ‘collaborative inspection’ e-channels and conventional counters, leading to back-flow congestion. The Security Bureau defended current staffing levels, saying contingency teams had been mobilised and that average clearance time had fallen to 45 minutes by Monday evening. Still, officials conceded that “teething issues” such as software resets and passenger unfamiliarity need fixing before the Christmas peak. An external consultant has been commissioned to benchmark staffing norms against comparable ports in Shenzhen and Singapore. From an employer perspective, extended wait times can translate into higher overtime costs for drivers, missed client meetings and shipment delays. Several cross-border logistics firms told the South China Morning Post they are adjusting pickup schedules and may levy a “Huanggang surcharge” if congestion persists. Travel-management companies likewise warned that day-trip itineraries could require overnight stays, increasing accommodation budgets. Industry bodies are pushing for quick wins: a fast-track lane for APEC Business Travel Card holders, real-time queuing data on the HK e-Channel app and a public dashboard on daily staffing deployment. If adopted, these measures could restore confidence among frequent travellers and ensure the port meets its strategic goal of enhancing Hong Kong-Shenzhen integration.
