Security Bureau to seek HK$2.7b funding to support development in new Huanggang Port

The Security Bureau plans to seek funding of HK$2.7 billion from the Legislative Council Panel on Security to support the Huanggang Redevelopment Project for the new Huanggang Port, which is scheduled to open next year.
According to the submitted documents, the proposed funding will support the construction of facilities in the Hong Kong Port Area (HKPA) and enhancements to related computer systems.
The Huanggang Port, which has been studied since 2019 in partnership with the Shenzhen Municipal Government, where the overall design and construction will be undertaken by the contractors of the Shenzhen side.
In terms of financing, the Shenzhen Municipal Government will bear the design and construction costs of the entire redevelopment project, while the HKSAR government will pay Shenzhen Municipal Government a nominal rent of 1,000 yuan per year, similar to the financial arrangement for the East Rail Link West Kowloon Station. 
Additionally, the HKSAR government will bear its own costs for items such as furniture, equipment, and information systems necessary for daily operations at the control point.
The key project items includes: passenger clearance hall and associated inspection facilities, vehicle clearance plaza facilities, ranging from clearance kiosks, vehicle X-ray inspection systems and automated vehicle clearance support systems, health inspection stations and negative pressure systems for isolation facilities, as well as  furniture and equipment for government departments operating at the control point, such as radio communication systems, electronic information display systems and CCTV systems.
Preliminary estimates suggest the total cost for the proposed project is around HK$1.75 billion. If the funding proposal is approved, work is expected to commence by the end of 2025, with completion anticipated within a year.
Highlighting the adoption of a new "collaborative inspection and joint clearance" model at the new Huanggang Port, the Bureau plans to seek funding approval from the Financial Committee under Capital Works Reserve Fund Head 710 for "Computerisation" to set up new information technology infrastructure and related system enhancement for better passenger experience and clearance efficiency.
According to the proposal, there will be enhancements on the Immigration Control System (ICONS) to support 134 “collaborative inspection” automated channels, 68 traditional manual counters and 26 vehicle clearance kiosks.
To facilitate immigration officers in verifying the authenticity of diverse types of travel documents, Electronic Documentation of Information System on Network (EDISON) will be installed.
Moreover, Next Generation Application and Investigation Easy Systems (APPLIES-2), along with Government Office Automation (GOA) System and Electronic Recordkeeping System (ERKS) will aid officers in reviewing the application status of passengers’ visas, permits, and travel passes.
The proposed project, covering hardware, software, communication networks, system implementation, contract staff services, site preparation, and training, is projected to involve a total non-recurrent expenditure of about HK$950 million over the financial years 2025-26 to 2027-28.
Following consultation with the members, the Bureau plans to submit the funding application to the financial committee in the fourth quarter of this year, aiming to award contracts by year-end.