Macau (MNA) – Hong Kong immigration authorities have installed some 51 automated immigration channels at its Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) which will make crossings faster and more convenient, the South China Morning Post reported.
The new e-channels are included in an upgrade of more than 100 automated immigration clearance channels in the neighboring SAR border checkpoints, including some 53 e-channels placed at the West Kowloon Station terminus of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
Each e-channel machine was said to cost HK$180,000 (US$22,994) with the total upgrade to have costed some HK$18 million, but with the new channels able to support a faster maintenance and more flexible deployment.
The clearance channels can be used to process both local residents and visitors and allow officers more flexibly and expedite immigration clearance.
An average of 69,000 people crossed the HZMB to Hong Kong between November 24 and December 23, a total of or 2.07 million and a 1.5 per cent rise from the 68,000 a day average in its first month of operation.
The HZMB opening on October 24 led to a 15.3 pct year-on-year rise in visitor numbers to Macau in November to about 3.26 million, with some 436,660 people traveling to Macau through the HZMB that month.
