Hong Kong will set up dedicated immigration lanes at four major border checkpoints to ensure smooth passage for athletes competing in the upcoming National Games, according to Yeung Tak-keung, head of the National Games Coordination Office.
The special arrangements—covering the airport, West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, and Shenzhen Bay Port—aim to streamline travel for competitors in the tri-hosted event this November.
Yeung, speaking on a radio program Saturday morning, said preparations have entered the final sprint, with coordination ongoing among Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau due to differing administrative procedures. A key "heads of delegation" meeting will soon convene in Guangzhou to align logistics.
To minimize public disruption, athletes will arrive three days before their events and depart one day after, with arrivals staggered across competition schedules.
For cross-border cycling and marathon events, pre-cleared customs procedures will allow "hassle-free passage," eliminating the need for stops during races—a system that could inform future multi-city sports collaborations, said Yeung.
On ticketing, Yeung confirmed a unified online portal—currently in testing—will sell seats for all venues, with 65 percent of tickets available to the public through phased sales.
Real-name registration is under consideration, with prices set at an accessible "tens to hundreds of HKD" range.
Hong Kong’s record 600-strong delegation will compete in over 20 events, including home-turf favorites like fencing and rugby sevens, where organizers hope local support will spur podium finishes.
(Marco Lam)
