More Hong Kong border checkpoints with mainland China to operate around clock in bid to boost business in Greater Bay Area, new action plan says

Proposals revealed in National Development and Reform Commission action plan, which also calls for incentives to attract Hong Kong talent across border

Document released in run-up to fifth anniversary of launch of Greater Bay Area plan to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine mainland cities into economic powerhouse

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More cross-border checkpoints could join the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Hong Kong Port (pictured) and Lok Ma Chau control point as 24-hour crossings. Photo: Sun Yeung

Published: 6:23pm, 26 Dec 2023Updated: 9:45pm, 26 Dec 2023

More border checkpoints between Hong Kong and mainland China will be open on a 24-hour basis in line with “actual needs”, the country’s top economic planning body has said in a three-year action plan designed to boost business in the Greater Bay Area.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NRDC) also promised to “achieve breakthroughs” in measures to attract Hong Kong talent across the border, such as in occupational qualification recognition and commercial medical insurance.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Hong Kong’s No 2 official, would head to Beijing on Wednesday for a press conference the following day organised by the State Council Information Office on the bay area development, the city government said.

The 24-point action plan, unveiled on Monday, was released just before the fifth anniversary of Beijing’s launch of its plan to integrate Hong Kong, Macau and nine mainland Chinese cities into an economic powerhouse.

The document focused on alignment of business rules and standards in the bay area with international norms and the setting up of a market-oriented, law-based and global business environment.

Travellers arrive in Hong Kong at the Shenzhen Bay border crossing. Photo: Elson LI

“[We will] adopt new customs clearance models such as the ‘co-location arrangement’ and the ‘collaborative inspection and joint clearance’ mode at more control points,” the action plan said.