Hong Kong and Shenzhen will open the revamped Huanggang Port at 6:30am on Monday, October 12, introducing round the clock immigration clearance for passengers and vehicles at the border crossing. The launch will also bring changes for travellers using nearby facilities, as passenger clearance services at the temporary Huanggang Port building in Shenzhen and Hong Kong’s Lok Ma Chau Control Point will be suspended.
Authorities confirmed the opening in a joint notice issued on Friday by Hong Kong’s Security Bureau and Shenzhen’s Office of Port of Entry and Exit. An opening ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, a day before the new facility begins handling travellers.
The redevelopment is intended to modernise a major crossing between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. With the new control point preparing to enter service, residents, commuters and other travellers will need to pay attention to the revised arrangements and ensure they use the correct immigration facility.
Huanggang Port to Begin 24 Hour Border Clearance
The new Huanggang Port will provide immigration clearance services throughout the day and night, allowing passengers and vehicles to cross the border outside conventional operating hours.
In their joint announcement, the authorities said the new port building had completed its acceptance inspection. Hong Kong and Shenzhen had also carried out system tests, operational trials and emergency drills before confirming that the facility was ready to open.
The preparations are intended to ensure that immigration procedures and supporting systems are functioning before regular operations begin. Automated clearance equipment, including e-Channel terminals, will form part of the new facility's passenger processing arrangements.
The opening marks the next stage of a redevelopment project that began in 2019. Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities have been working to upgrade the border crossing on the Shenzhen side of the boundary, replacing the previous arrangements with a redesigned facility.
The introduction of 24 hour clearance is particularly relevant to people whose journeys take place outside standard daytime operating periods. Travellers will still need to follow the immigration requirements applicable to their circumstances, but the new operating schedule will provide access to clearance services at any hour.
Passenger Services at Lok Ma Chau and Temporary Huanggang Port to Stop
The launch will affect travellers who currently use the temporary Huanggang Port building in Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau Control Point in Hong Kong.
According to Friday's joint notice, passenger clearance services at both locations will be suspended when the new Huanggang control point comes into operation.
The change means that passengers should check their intended crossing before setting out on October 12. Anyone who regularly uses Lok Ma Chau or the temporary Huanggang facility should review the updated arrangements and allow sufficient time to adjust their journey.
The announcement specifically refers to the suspension of passenger clearance services at the two existing facilities. Travellers should consult official government updates for details relevant to their route, including any arrangements affecting other transport services.
The transition is an important practical consideration for people who cross the Hong Kong and Shenzhen border frequently for work, education, business or personal travel. Even when a new facility offers additional operating hours, passengers can face delays or confusion if they arrive at a crossing that no longer provides the service they need.
Checking official notices before departure will help travellers avoid unnecessary journeys and identify the appropriate control point for their trip.
Immigration Department Encourages Travellers to Register for E-Channel Service
Hong Kong's Immigration Department has urged residents to register for the co-operative inspection and joint clearance service through the HK e-Channel mobile application.
Registration will allow eligible users to access the automated service at Huanggang Port when it opens. The department's reminder comes as authorities prepare to move operations to the new facility and introduce the revised clearance arrangements.
Automated immigration channels can help eligible travellers complete identity checks without relying entirely on conventional manual processing. However, access depends on the applicable registration and eligibility requirements, so residents should check the official instructions before attempting to use the service.
The Immigration Department also provided a glimpse of the new facility's preparations on Friday. Director of Immigration Benson Kwok visited the revamped Huanggang Port on October 9, according to a post published on the department's social media account.
Photographs released alongside the post showed Kwok inspecting e-Channel terminals inside the new border crossing. The visit offered a look at the automated equipment that will support passenger clearance once operations begin.
Residents planning to use the new port should complete any required registration in advance rather than waiting until they reach the immigration hall. They should also confirm that their travel documents and other required information are ready before beginning their journey.
Opening Ceremony Scheduled for Sunday
The opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, October 11, ahead of the control point's scheduled launch the following morning.
Hong Kong Police Commissioner Joe Chow gazetted a notice allowing staff participants in the ceremony to enter the Hong Kong side of the Huanggang Port control point between 4am and 10pm on Sunday.
The notice concerns participants involved in the opening event and sets out the authorised entry period for that purpose. It does not change the announced start time for ordinary operations, which remains 6:30am on Monday.
The distinction matters for travellers planning to cross the border over the weekend. The ceremony and its associated arrangements take place before the new control point begins its regular clearance services.
Anyone intending to travel on Sunday or early Monday should check the latest official information rather than assuming the new facility will be available for ordinary passenger processing before its announced opening.
Redevelopment Began in 2019
Hong Kong and Shenzhen began refurbishing Huanggang Port in 2019 as part of efforts to modernise the crossing on the Shenzhen side of the border.
The project involves more than the construction of a new building. Immigration systems, operational procedures and coordination between the authorities on both sides must work together before a new control point can handle passengers and vehicles.
A legal step towards closer cooperation came in July, when Hong Kong lawmakers passed a joint clearance arrangement for the revamped crossing. The measure allows Hong Kong immigration personnel to enter the Huanggang Port area to carry out border clearance services.
The arrangement provides a legal basis for officers from Hong Kong to perform their duties within the designated area on the Shenzhen side. It also supports the coordinated approach required to process travellers through the new facility.
Cross border clearance depends on cooperation between the two jurisdictions, since passengers must satisfy the relevant entry and exit requirements. The joint arrangement helps establish how immigration work will be carried out at the redesigned port.
The completion of the building inspections, system trials and emergency drills represents another step towards putting those arrangements into practice. The authorities have confirmed that the facility is ready for opening, with regular services due to begin on October 12.
What Travellers Need to Know Before October 12
The most immediate change is the new Huanggang Port's operating schedule and the suspension of passenger clearance at two existing facilities.
Travellers should keep the following details in mind:
Opening date: Monday, October 12, 2026.
Start time: 6:30am.
Operating hours: Round the clock clearance for passengers and vehicles.
Opening ceremony: Sunday, October 11.
Affected facilities: Passenger clearance services at the temporary Huanggang Port building in Shenzhen and Hong Kong's Lok Ma Chau Control Point will be suspended when the new control point begins operations.
Automated clearance: Hong Kong residents are encouraged to register for the co-operative inspection and joint clearance service through the HK e-Channel mobile application.
The new Huanggang Port will give travellers access to a border crossing operating 24 hours a day, while the accompanying changes will require some passengers to revise familiar routes. Residents should verify their intended crossing, review the latest immigration guidance and complete any necessary registration before travelling.
Will you be using the revamped Huanggang Port after it opens on October 12? Check the latest official announcements before setting off, and share this update with anyone who regularly travels between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.