By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-15 05:54:50 | Updated at 2024-11-15 08:28:07
2 hours ago
Residents of Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China will from next week be able to cross the borders at Shenzhen Bay and Zhuhai’s Gongbei checkpoints using “document-free” channels under a pilot scheme to fast-track the customs clearance process.
Mainland immigration authorities announced on Friday that the process would begin on November 20, and also be available to non-Chinese nationals who were residents of the authorised places.
The pilot scheme is meant to upgrade certain customs channels, allowing private individuals who travel frequently between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau to move quickly across borders without needing to provide physical documents if they have already been registered under the scheme.
Those eligible include mainland residents aged over 14 with a valid multiple-entry mainland travel permit for Hong Kong and Macau travelling for family visits and business reasons, as well as Hong Kong and Macau residents holding a valid mainland travel permit, including non-Chinese nationals, who agree to the collection and verification of facial and fingerprint data by border inspection authorities.
They can choose to use the “document-free” channel at border checkpoints without having to show their physical entry and exit documents.
Mainland residents holding entry and exit documents for official duties are not eligible to use the “document-free” channel and must still go through other inspection channels for clearance.
