Macao witnessed smooth operation of immigration and transport services at the Macao boundary checkpoint for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao (HKZM) Bridge from the time the Bridge became operational at 9am today.
The Government would nonetheless optimise – on a rolling basis – those facilities, based on feedback from travellers to and from Macao making their journeys via the HKZM Bridge.
The first few hours of general operation for the bridge were summarised to the media by the Director of the Transport Bureau, Mr Lam Hin Sang, who is also the Macao head at the HKZM Bridge Joint Works Committee of the Three Governments.
During the period from 9am to 4pm, an aggregate of 8,619 travellers used the Macao boundary checkpoint. Of that total, 1,249 were moving between Zhuhai and Macao either inbound or outbound; while 7,165 people of the aggregate number were moving between Macao and Hong Kong either inbound or outbound.
Under the “Joint Inspection and One-time Release” principle between Macao and Zhuhai, it had taken an average of around 20 seconds for each traveller to complete immigration formalities, said Mr Kei Wa Nao, a representative from Macao’s Public Security Police Force.
As of 3pm, there was a total of 59 outbound vehicles and 46 inbound vehicles that had passed through the Macao boundary checkpoint. The latter number included 15 private vehicles from Hong Kong.
It had taken an average of 10 to 15 seconds for each vehicle to complete clearance procedures at the Macao boundary checkpoint.
Regarding shuttle services – defined as those licensed services moving passengers only between the Macao boundary checkpoint and the Hong Kong checkpoint, and vice versa – as of 3pm, a total of 113 shuttles had taken an aggregate of 4,742 people either outbound to the Hong Kong boundary checkpoint or inbound to the Macao boundary checkpoint.
For Hong Kong-Macao bus services – defined as licensed operations offering a through-service either to places in Macao or places in Hong Kong after crossing the Bridge – as of 3pm, a total of 833 people had travelled in 21 scheduled buses between the two Special Administrative Regions (SARs).
In terms of vehicle parking at the Macao boundary crossing, as of 3pm, 288 vehicles (including light private cars and motorcycles) had been parked in the west end car park, namely by travellers leaving for either Zhuhai or Hong Kong. Three vehicles from outside of Macao, out of the seven registered online, had been parked in the east car park at the Macao boundary crossing.
Regarding Hong Kong-Macao private hire car transport services, the Government was providing assistance for the companies granted the quota rights to commence service as soon as possible.
According a previous agreement with Hong Kong authorities, there are 60 Hong Kong-licensed private hire cars permitted to enter Macao via the Bridge with unlimited access during their respective licence period; while a total of 40 Macao-licensed private hire cars are permitted to enter Hong Kong via the Bridge on an unlimited access basis.
Mr Lam noted that the numbers were based on preliminary analysis, adding the Government would be closely monitoring demand for cross-boundary private hire car transport services.
Regarding quarantine procedures and health inspection work, the Health Bureau had reported all processes were operating smoothly during the first few hours of the Bridge’s opening. There had been no suspected case of any traveller suffering from either an infectious disease or a radiation overdose.
A total of 75 fire and rescue workers and 12 emergency service vehicles has been stationed at the Macao boundary crossing areas since 15 March. Since that date – i.e., since before the Bridge was operational – the Fire Services Bureau had handled three cases requiring use of an ambulance and two cases requiring rescue work.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was a major piece of infrastructure and a fresh alternative for people wishing to travel between the three places and beyond, said the Director of the Transport Bureau. During the first stage of operations, he expected it would take some time for all involved in managing and using the Bridge to become familiar with relevant procedures. This included those involved in maintaining services – such as systems and immigration clearance procedures – at the Macao boundary crossing area.