HK mulls airport ‘co-location’ joint checkpoint

The city’s transport chief said on Wednesday that setting up a joint checkpoint at the Hong Kong International Airport would be a feasible option for Hong Kong.  

The co-location joint checkpoint arrangement has been previously proposed by local lawmakers to enable the opening of more air routes between Hong Kong and mainland cities and help boost Hong Kong’s economy.

After setting up a co-location arrangement, mainland checkpoints will be set up at the Hong Kong airport, enabling the Hong Kong airport to connect to the whole aviation network on the mainland.

Co-location has already been implemented in five ports in China, including one in the West Kowloon Station of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan said the co-location arrangement will be the central theme of the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Chan also noted that the Transport and Housing Bureau and the Civil Aviation Administration of China have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the development of cross-boundary helicopter services between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

“Guangdong and Hong Kong are now exploring ways to further promote the development of cross-boundary commercial helicopter services, including studying the feasibility of setting up take-off or landing points that fulfill the relevant customs, immigration, and quarantine arrangements,” he said.

The transport chief added that local authorities are complementing a feasibility study being carried out by agencies in Shenzhen and are providing advice based on their professional expertise through taskforce meetings with the Shenzhen side.

“The Shenzhen side expects to complete the feasibility study within this year. Based on the results of the study, both sides will further discuss the next step forward,” said Chan.