200 Retired Immigration Officers to Return to Service for New Huanggang Port
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Immigration Department (ImmD) has announced plans to rehire approximately 200 retired officers to handle the surge in traveler volume during the initial opening phase of the new Huanggang Port. Director of Immigration Benson Kwok Joon-fung revealed this plan during a television program appearance, adding that the department will also seek additional government resources to hire more staff based on future operational needs .
Key Points
- The redeveloped Huanggang Port is capable of processing up to 200,000 travelers per day, dramatically increasing border capacity
- The current Lok Ma Chau Control Point handles approximately 40,000 travelers daily, making the new facility five times more efficient
- Benson Kwok Joon-fung, Director of Immigration, stated on a television program that retired officers would be recalled for the opening phase
- The new port accessible by direct public bus routes will divert passenger traffic from Heung Yuen Wai and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control points
- The "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" model reduces individual clearance time to approximately 20 seconds
Why It Matters
The new Huanggang Port represents a major infrastructure advancement for Hong Kong's border facilities, with the ability to handle five times more daily travelers than existing checkpoints. The reemployment of retired officers highlights the department's proactive approach to managing the transition period while exploring long-term staffing solutions. The government is actively considering expanding the efficient 20-second clearance model to other border crossings, including the Sha Tau Kok Control Point slated for reconstruction .
The new Huanggang Port represents a major infrastructure advancement for Hong Kong's border facilities, with the ability to handle five times more daily travelers than existing checkpoints. The reemployment of retired officers highlights the department's proactive approach to managing the transition period while exploring long-term staffing solutions. The government is actively considering expanding the efficient 20-second clearance model to other border crossings, including the Sha Tau Kok Control Point slated for reconstruction .