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.