Sha Tau Kok Border Checkpoint set for demolition on Aug 1

The Sha Tau Kok border checkpoint will be demolished starting August 1, with reconstruction expected to begin in the first half of next year. The revamped facility is likely to adopt a "joint inspection, one-time release" clearance model similar to the Huanggang Port, according to DAB lawmaker Edward Lau Kwok-fan.

Lau said he inspected the checkpoint on Tuesday and discussed redevelopment plans with officials of the STK Co-operation Zone.

He was informed that demolition work will take three to four months, followed by foundation excavation in the first half of next year.

The new checkpoint will be built using a cross-river construction approach, with approximately 30,000 square meters allocated for immigration facilities and an additional 14,000 square meters for commercial use.

Once rebuilt, the checkpoint will operate solely for passenger clearance, aligning with the “East in East out, West in West out” Strategy for Cross-boundary Goods Traffic.

The proposed "joint inspection, one-time release" system—already in place at Huanggang—will streamline customs and immigration checks, allowing travelers to pass through both Hong Kong and mainland controls in a single step.

Meanwhile, Lau highlighted progress in opening up the once-restricted Sha Tau Kok area, including Chung Ying Street.

The Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau, the Security Bureau, and the Yantian District Government are coordinating efforts to permit group tours to access the historically significant zone under a "group-in, group-out" arrangement, potentially by year-end, he said.

To boost tourism accessibility, a short-term lease parking lot with 100 spaces was opened near the Sha Tau Kok restricted area last year, enabling self-driving visitors to explore the border town more conveniently, Lau added.