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2026
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government conducted its second large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area today to further test the overall management of passenger and vehicular flows at the port building and the public transport interchange (PTI). An inter-departmental counter-terrorism and major incident exercise was also held to strengthen the response capabilities of various departments in emergency cases. The exercise mobilised about 5,000 civil servants from around 30 departments. During the drill, participants took various modes of public transport to arrive at the port. They then proceeded to the departure hall and the arrival hall of the port building. Subsequently, they left the port by taking public transport as instructed. Participants and vehicles dispatched by various public transport operators took part in cyclical trials involving more than 250 departures to simulate the flow of people and vehicles arriving and departing from the port. Participants in the drill simulated queuing for immigration clearance procedures in the departure hall and the arrival hall to test the relevant crowd-control arrangements. This drill also featured a new “crowd concentrated-flow test”. A large number of participants were first held on designated floors, in order to create a short-term unforeseen surge pressure subsequently by simulating a situation where an influx of passengers arrive and proceed to the PTI. This is to test inter-departmental co-ordination arrangements and further test the effectiveness of the management of passenger and vehicular flows and various supporting measures. During the drill, different types of tests were also featured. These included simulating the operational arrangement of small vehicles crossing the boundary; simulating a large number of departing passengers queuing to use the clearance facilities; and a large number of passengers gathering at the PTI to wait for individual public transport services. Other tests involved the Department of Health’s quarantine station discovering suspected infection cases and requesting ambulancemen to co-operate in handling the situation; and the taxi management arrangements being activated in response to a large number of taxis going to the PTI. The flow test was followed by an inter-departmental counter-terrorism and major incident exercise conducted at the departure hall on the fifth floor of the port building. The exercise simulated a scenario in which extremists launched a shooting attack after they were discovered to possess firearms and ammunition, causing mass casualties and requiring immediate evacuation. The exercise aimed to enhance departments’ co-ordination and response capabilities in handling terrorism and violence-related intelligence, and responding to different forms of terrorist attacks. Next, different departments conducted a major-incident exercise, which simulated a serious traffic accident on the new connecting road to the port, thereby hindering vehicles from using the original route to enter the port. Traffic was redirected under police instruction to use the southbound route, with one-lane two-way, intermittent access to the port’s PTI. Vehicles were also directed to leave the port and return to the urban area. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung inspected the drill on-site, which was conducted smoothly. He held a meeting with the participating departments afterwards to review the flow and suggestions given by the participants, in order to make further enhancements in subsequent drills.
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) will hold open days on September 12 and 13 to celebrate its 80th anniversary, with free admission tickets available for online registration starting today. Themed "Safeguarding Civil Aviation for 80 Years: Passing the Torch, Shaping the Future", the event aims to strengthen community ties and promote aviation knowledge. The open day will feature a wide range of activities, including an Air Traffic Control Tower Simulator experience, thematic talks on aviation, and a career exhibition on CAD professional grades. Visitors can also join guided tours of the Aviation Education Path, enjoy interactive game booths, and participate in a treasure hunt. To enhance the visitor experience, the event will be split into three sessions. The first session will run from 2pm to 5pm on September 12. On September 13, the morning session will take place from 9.30am to 12.30pm, followed by an afternoon session from 2pm to 5pm. Online pre-registration is required as admission is free but limited. Each applicant may select one preferred session and request a maximum of three tickets. If applications exceed capacity, tickets will be allocated through a computer ballot. The registration is open from today until August 24, successful applicants will receive their QR code admission tickets by email on or before September 4. Click here for details.
Chief Executive John Lee today presented award certificates to two civil service teams under the Chief Executive's Award for Exemplary Performance scheme. The recipients are the Inter-departmental Team for Wartime Bomb Disposal with Emergency Relief and Support Services (Bomb Disposal Team), and the Inter-departmental Team for Light Public Housing (LPH). Addressing the presentation ceremony, Mr Lee praised the teams for fulfilling their duties with exceptional competence and winning public trust through tangible results. He added that they demonstrate the Government's “people-oriented” approach and responsible and results-driven governance philosophy, setting an example for the entire civil service. The Bomb Disposal Team was recognised for its swift response in September 2025, when a 1,000-pound wartime bomb was discovered at a Quarry Bay construction site. The operation was further complicated by the approach of Super Typhoon Ragasa. The Security Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department and the Home Affairs Department immediately activated an emergency mechanism. Their co-ordinated efforts ensured the orderly evacuation of nearly 2,900 residents across 18 buildings and the safe defusal of the bomb. Senior Bomb Disposal Officer (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau) Suryanto Chin-chiu thanked the Chief Executive for the recognition. He noted that the crisis was handled safely because every department demonstrated a high level of professionalism and the solidarity of “One Government”. The LPH Team, led by the Housing Bureau in collaboration with the Architectural Services Department, achieved remarkable results in a short period to break Hong Kong construction records. The Yau Pok Road project in Yuen Long was completed in approximately 12 months. Meanwhile, the foundation and 18-floor superstructure at Choi Hing Road in Ngau Tau Kok were completed in less than 18 months. As a result, the Composite Waiting Time for Subsidised Rental Housing dropped from 6.1 years to 4.8 years. Then-Deputy Secretary for Housing (Special Duties) Winnie Wong stated that providing a comfortable and safe environment for those previously living in inadequate housing was the team's greatest motivation for rapid delivery. The nomination exercise for this round of the Chief Executive's Award for Exemplary Performance commenced in May. The Civil Service Bureau invited bureaus to nominate outstanding teams or colleagues for the honour.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government conducted its first large-scale drill at the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area today to prepare for the port’s upcoming official opening. The exercise mobilised approximately 1,000 civil servants from over 20 departments. It successfully tested the overall management of passenger and vehicular flows at both the port building and the public transport interchange (PTI). During the drill, participants took various modes of public transport, including franchised buses, short-haul cross-boundary coaches, green minibuses and taxis, to reach the PTI on the second floor of the port building. They then proceeded through the fifth-floor departure hall and the fourth-floor arrival hall before returning to the PTI to leave the port. Participants and operator-dispatched vehicles conducted cyclical trials involving more than 120 departures to simulate realistic arrival and departure conditions. The trials operations specifically assessed passenger and vehicular flow management, passageway capacity, on-site guidance, traffic control and various supporting facilities. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan inspected the drill on-site. Mr Tang noted that the entire drill flowed smoothly and achieved its expected testing objectives through close interdepartmental co-operation. He added that identified areas for improvement will be addressed in subsequent exercises, with larger drills planned for the future to ensure comprehensive preparation for the port’s opening. Ms Chan stated that this initial drill primarily tested local and cross-boundary public transport services alongside their ancillary arrangements. She highlighted that passengers boarding, alighting, queuing and traffic management all operated smoothly, delivering a positive passenger experience. The Transport & Logistics Bureau and the Transport Department will continue to refine these arrangements based on user needs. A wide range of bureaus, departments and public transport operators took part in the exercise. Participants included the Security Bureau, the Transport & Logistics Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Transport Department, the Highways Department, the Immigration Department, the Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department, the Department of Health and the Fire Services Department. Also participating were the Architectural Services Department, the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, the Government Property Agency, the Digital Policy Office, the Office of the Communications Authority, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service. Meanwhile, the Transport Department confirmed it will continue conducting road and facility testing with operators. Ongoing tasks include evaluating transit routes and facilities, training bus drivers and testing traffic diversions – all of which have progressed smoothly. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to run drills of various scales to assess the capacity of the Huanggang Port and its surrounding infrastructure. It remains in close liaison with Shenzhen authorities to press ahead with preparatory tasks, and the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will announce the official opening date once the port is fully ready for safe and smooth operation.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said today that at least 100 different types of exercises will be conducted before the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area is considered ready for opening, in order to ensure smooth and safe operations at the port. Mr Tang made his remarks after touring the port area with Legislative Council members this morning. “Regarding the opening time of this port area, what we need to do is, first of all, we have to make sure all the installations are okay, all the signals are okay, and we will have at least 100 different types of exercises before we consider the opening of the port area.” He added that some of these will be large-scale cross-boundary exercises conducted jointly with the Shenzhen side and involving at least over 10,000 participants. “When we consider that the operation is smooth and safe, then we will join with the Shenzhen side to consider when to open. It is both of our wishes that it will be opened as soon as possible.”
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung today inspected the newly established Hong Kong Port Area at the Huanggang Port to review preparations ahead of its official opening. The Hong Kong Port Area officially went into operation at midnight today. It is now subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with Hong Kong SAR laws. During his visit to the Huanggang Port Building, Mr Tang toured several key levels to check the installation progress of various facilities. He visited the public transport interchange, passenger clearance halls, vehicle clearance facilities and the immigration clearance hall for on-board passengers. He also assessed advanced clearing systems, including the “collaborative inspection” automated channels, manual counters and “joint one-stop” vehicle lanes. Mr Tang chaired a meeting with representatives from the Transport & Logistics Bureau, Transport Department, Highways Department, Architectural Services Department, Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, Government Property Agency, Police Force, Fire Services Department, Immigration Department, Customs & Excise Department, Department of Health and other departments to discuss works progress, system testing and emergency arrangements to ensure robust port operations. The Hong Kong SAR Government will maintain close co-operation with Shenzhen authorities to advance remaining preparatory tasks. The official opening date will be finalised and announced to the public once both sides confirm the port is ready for safe and smooth operations.
Hong Kong and Shenzhen today signed two documents relating to the implementation of new arrangements at the redeveloped Huanggang Port. The “Co-operation Arrangement between the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government (SZMG) and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Implementation of Colocation Arrangement at the Huanggang Port” was signed by Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and SZMG Vice Mayor Luo Huanghao at the Central Government Offices. The document gives effect to co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen on implementing a co-location arrangement at the port. Meanwhile, the Security Bureau and the SZMG’s Office of Port of Entry & Exit signed the “Agreement on the Right to Use the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas”, which allows the Hong Kong SAR Government to acquire, by way of a lease, the right to use these areas, collectively referred to as the Hong Kong Port Area. The lease will commence on the day on which the areas are commissioned and will expire on June 30, 2047. On the expiry, the lease may be renewed with a decision by the National People’s Congress. The SZMG will meet the design and construction costs of the entire Huanggang Port Redevelopment Project. The Hong Kong SAR Government will pay the SZMG a nominal rent of RMB1,000 per year. Mr Tang thanked the central authorities for their staunch support in implementing the co-location arrangement and establishing the Hong Kong Port Area. The latter will be established at midnight tonight and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Hong Kong SAR in accordance with the city’s laws. The security chief said the signing of the two documents marks an important milestone in preparatory work for the port’s opening. He added: “The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to work closely with the Shenzhen side to take forward various preparatory tasks in an orderly manner, including system testing, and operational and emergency drills, to ensure that all facilities and operational arrangements at the Port are sound and comprehensive.” Upon confirmation that the port is ready for operation, the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong will finalise and announce an official opening date.
The Customs & Excise Department, in collaboration with the Immigration Department, conducted a joint counter-terrorism exercise today at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. About 100 officers from both departments participated in the drill. The exercise simulated a joint operation during a major festival, targeting an outbound private car with a driver and passenger suspected of being linked to terrorist activities. Officers detected suspected terrorism-related items and forged travel documents inside the vehicle. During the examination, a suspected bomb device was discovered at the outbound private car kiosk. Officers immediately initiated an emergency plan and evacuated everyone at the scene in a safe and orderly manner. This exercise enhanced frontline officers' counter-terrorism awareness and intelligence-handling capabilities. It also strengthened inter-departmental co-ordination and communication in response to terrorism-related emergencies, protecting public safety and safeguarding national security.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders can now visit Nicaragua without a visa for up to 30 days, the Immigration Department announced today. Starting from today they will also be able to enjoy visa-free travel to the Solomon Islands for up to 30 days. Concurrently, nationals of Nicaragua and Solomon Islands can now visit Hong Kong visa-free for up to 30 days. Highlighting that both Nicaragua and the Solomon Islands are part of the Belt & Road Initiative, the department said the new arrangements bring greater travel convenience to travellers from all three places, while strengthening Hong Kong’s ties with Nicaragua and the Solomon Islands in terms of tourism, culture and economy. A total of 178 countries and territories now allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders.
Six pieces of subsidiary legislation relating to the operation of the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area and Related Extended Areas, collectively known as the Hong Kong Port Area, were published today in the Government Gazette. The six pieces of legislation are designed to support the operational needs of the Hong Kong Port Area after the Huanggang Port Hong Kong Port Area Ordinance is commissioned on July 31. The redeveloped Huanggang Port in Shenzhen is implementing a “colocation arrangement”, meaning that Hong Kong and Mainland immigration and customs clearance will occur in the same building, on the Shenzhen side, rather than at two separate checkpoints. The designated Hong Kong Port Area is part of this combined facility, which is being positioned as the most important 24-hour passenger land boundary control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The new regulations grant entry and exit permissions for cross-boundary drivers, passengers and other travellers. With regard to law enforcement, the subsidiary legislation will allow detention quarters to be set up at the Hong Kong Port Area, allowing the Immigration Department to carry out routine immigration control and law enforcement duties. Additionally, with the Hong Kong Port Area designated as a specified control point, people carrying a large quantity of currency or cash-equivalents with a total value more than $120,000 will have to make a declaration to Hong Kong Customs. On the traffic and transport management fronts, the “permitted area” for New Territories taxis will be expanded to all roads within the Hong Kong Port Area. The subsidiary legislation also exempts Mainland mobile network operators approved by the Mainland authorities from the requirement to provide public mobile radiocommunications services in the Hong Kong Port Area. The Government stressed that the subsidiary legislation will enable various departments to discharge their duties in the Hong Kong Port Area in accordance with the law and to facilitate preparatory work for the official opening of the Huanggang Port to the public. This work includes a series of system tests, trials and drills due to be conducted jointly with the Mainland authorities, to ensure that all operational and clearance arrangements are sound and comprehensive. The Government will table the subsidiary legislation in the Legislative Council for negative vetting.