Chief Executive Carrie Lam today led a delegation of officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to attend the opening ceremony of the Liantang Port (LP)/Heung Yuen Wai (HYW) Boundary Control Point (BCP), where its cargo clearance facilities opened first at 4pm.

The ceremony, which Mrs Lam officiated with some Mainland officials, was held at the Customs Cargo Inspection Area of the LP in Shenzhen.

Addressing the ceremony, Mrs Lam said the opening of the BCP on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone was particularly meaningful.

She explained that the new BCP will greatly shorten the travelling time between Hong Kong, Shenzhen and eastern Guangdong, thereby facilitating the smooth and efficient operation of cross-boundary logistics and furthering the co-operation and development of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, eastern Guangdong and neighbouring provinces.

It will also enhance the one-hour living circle of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, and provide extremely favourable infrastructure connectivity for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

While the BCP's construction had fully reflected the people-oriented principle, Mrs Lam pointed out that the design of its Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) made reference to the winning design of an international competition co-organised by Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

She also noted that the HYW BCP in Hong Kong is the first of its kind to adopt the design principle of "direct access to people and vehicles", bringing greater convenience to people.

Highlighting that the Hong Kong SAR Government had to reprovision the entire Chuk Yuen Village to make way for the PTB's construction, Mrs Lam said the issue was peacefully resolved, thanks to the understanding and co-operation of the villagers.

She also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the late Chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk Lau Wong-fat for his efforts in making possible the smooth reprovisioning of the village, and thanked all the people participating in the BCP's construction for their contributions.

The new BCP is the seventh land-based control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Its cargo clearance facilities will operate from 7am to 10pm daily.

As for the passenger facilities, relevant departments will review the situation and commission the facilities at a suitable time taking into account the epidemic situation and cross-boundary anti-epidemic measures.

After the ceremony, Mrs Lam visited the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation & Technology Co-operation Zone in Shenzhen, where Shenzhen Mayor Chen Rugui gave a briefing on the zone's latest developments.

Noting that the zone will have strong links and co-operation with the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park located in the Lok Ma Chau Loop, Mrs Lam stated that the Hong Kong SAR Government is moving forward with the work of the latter at full steam.

She said the goal is to make the first batch of land parcels available by 2021, complete the first-stage construction of three buildings by the end of 2024 and allow tenants to move in by early 2025.

Mrs Lam then inspected youth innovation and entrepreneurship projects of the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau youth innovation and entrepreneur workshop, where she exchanged views with young Hong Kong entrepreneurs who started businesses there.

She pointed out that the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to promoting youth innovation and entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area, and that it has rolled out a new subsidy scheme under the Youth Development Fund to provide support to Hong Kong young people who are interested in starting their businesses locally and in the Mainland cities of the bay area.

Mrs Lam also expressed hope they will seize the bay area's development opportunities and integrate into the nation's overall development.