New link: The Shenzhen Bay Port and the Shenzhen Bay Bridge - also known as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor - will commence operation on July 1.

The Shenzhen Bay Port and the Shenzhen Bay Bridge - also known as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor - will commence operation on July 1.

The port will be officially opened after a ceremony at noon on July 1, and passenger and cargo clearance facilities will be opened for public use from 6pm.

It will initially run for 17.5 hours a day, from 6.30am to midnight. Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides will assess when to provide a 24-hour service after the port has been in operation for some time.

To allow sufficient time for the clearance of passengers and vehicles before the closure of the Shenzhen Bay Port at midnight, the Shenzhen Bay Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic at 11.30pm every night, including July 1. 

Cross-boundary drivers and passengers should allow sufficient travelling time when planning their journeys.

Hong Kong's immigration and customs facilities will be co-located with those of the Mainland at the Shenzhen Bay Port under the co-location arrangement, the first of its kind to be implemented at control points.

Under the co-location arrangement at the new control point, coach passengers will only have to get on and off once instead of twice in going through clearance procedures of the two sides, thereby shortening the clearance time by about five to 10 minutes for each traveller.

The 5.5-kilometre-long Shenzhen Bay Bridge is the fourth vehicular boundary crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It links the new control point at the Shenzhen Bay Port in Shekou with Ngau Hom Shek in the northwest New Territories.

It is expected that two-way daily traffic and passenger flows will be 29,800 vehicles and 30,800 passengers during the initial opening period. The anticipated traffic and passenger flows will increase to about 60,300 vehicles and 61,300 passengers each day in 2016.

Insurance coverage extended

Meanwhile, the Government has entered into a market agreement with all 60 insurers carrying on motor and employees' compensation business, extending their existing insurance policies in respect of motor and employees' compensation to cover the Shenzhen Bay Port Hong Kong Port Area.