The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's Task Force of Supplies from the Mainland has been working closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government to explore various means to stabilise the supply of goods to Hong Kong. In addition to staunchly expanding water transport and strongly promoting rail cargo transport, the HKSAR Government is also implementing different measures to improve land transport arrangements to reduce the pressure on anti-epidemic work brought by cross-boundary land transport of goods to the Mainland.
To reduce the risk of epidemic transmission in the Mainland caused by cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers, the Transport Department (TD) has arranged dedicated staff to conduct rapid antigen tests for cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers at various land boundary control points (BCPs) progressively starting from 7am today (February 28). Only those drivers with a negative result may enter the Mainland.
In addition, the TD has already adopted stringent measures to tighten control on Hong Kong cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers and their logistics companies. From February 25 onward, if Hong Kong cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers violate the anti-epidemic and health management measures of the Governments of Guangdong and HKSAR, the TD will withdraw the closed road permit for the particular vehicle of the concerned driver. Permit will not be granted to those with serious non-compliance record at the maximum of three months and the concerned vehicle will not be allowed to use land BCPs for entering the Mainland. The TD will closely monitor the effectiveness of the relevant measures and make adjustments where necessary.
In order to further ensure the stability of supplies to Hong Kong through land transport, the HKSAR Government is working with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government to accelerate the establishment of centralised cargo transfer points for non-fresh food items and other goods in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government plans to use the air cargo terminals of the Hong Kong International Airport, the Kwai Chung Container Terminals, and the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal as temporary cargo transfer yards in the first phase, and trial operations will begin from tomorrow (March 1).
The HKSAR Government will closely monitor the situation and will continue to promote and implement various measures with the Mainland authorities to ensure a stable supply to Hong Kong, as well as actively improving the cross-boundary goods transportation arrangements.
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