China News Service, Shenzhen, September 23 (Suo Youwei, Liu Huifang) On September 23, the West Kowloon Station Port of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-speed Railway completed its eighth anniversary of operation. According to statistics from the Shenzhen Immigration Inspection Station, as of that day, the West Kowloon Immigration Inspection Station had inspected more than 126 million people entering and exiting the country, with mainland passengers accounting for 63%. It has become normal for the passenger flow to exceed 100,000 during holidays. This year, the inbound and outbound passenger flow exceeded 10 million on the 103rd day, 16 days earlier than last year, and the highest single-day inbound and outbound passenger flow reached 149,000.
It is reported that with the further expansion of the high-speed rail network, personnel exchanges and economic and trade exchanges between the two places have become more efficient and convenient, and the integrated development of Hong Kong and the mainland has become increasingly closer. Relying on the transportation advantages of Hong Kong’s international aviation hub and the efficient connection between Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High-speed Rail, the West Kowloon Station Port has become a popular entry channel for foreign tourists.
Passengers travel through the West Kowloon Station Port. Photo by Yang Rui
Data shows that since the opening of the port, more than 5.45 million foreigners have entered and exited the West Kowloon Station port, making it the land port with the largest number of foreign tourists in the country. This year, the West Kowloon Border Inspection Station has inspected more than 1.26 million foreign passengers, a year-on-year increase of approximately 34%.
Foreign tourists enter the country through the West Kowloon Station Port. Photo by Yang Rui
In order to achieve "people enjoy their travels and goods flow smoothly", the West Kowloon Immigration Inspection Station focuses on the smoothness of customs clearance and people's satisfaction. By building an AI digital intelligent border inspection system, it independently develops a passenger flow prediction and diversion system, and upgrades the software and hardware of the 100 passenger express lanes at the port. The facilities have increased the passenger utilization ratio of fast lanes to 86%, the instantaneous passenger flow peak-cutting and diversion capabilities have been greatly improved, the average passenger flow inspection and release volume per hour has increased by 50%, and more than 80% of Chinese passengers can complete customs clearance procedures in the mainland port area within 5 minutes.
While ensuring convenient customs clearance, the West Kowloon Border Inspection Station also strengthens port inspections and control, and strictly cracks down on port and cross-border crimes. Over the past eight years, the station has successively discovered important clues such as those suspected of holding fake visas and those involved in gambling and fraud. It has investigated and reported more than 2,000 suspects, promoted local public security organs to file and investigate more than 500 cases, discovered more than 200 cases of illegal immigration and more than 230 people, and discovered nearly 1,700 cases of illegal and non-illegal immigration, building a strong national security barrier for the country.
