Progress made in boundary controls of express rail, Wang Guangya reveals

Wang Guangya, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, on Wednesday said progress had been made in arranging boundary controls of the express rail link between Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Wang, speaking in Beijing, confirmed that officials from the mainland and Hong Kong would meet up in mid-March to discuss the juxtaposed boundary controls for the Guangzhou-Shenzhen- Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL). The railway is expected to open in the third quarter of 2018.

The juxtaposed boundary controls will allow passengers to undergo customs checks for both the mainland and Hong Kong in one place to save time.

The long-awaited XRL runs for approximately 26 kilometers in Hong Kong. It is one of the Pearl River Delta’s major infrastructure projects and aims to enhance cross-boundary exchanges. It will connect Hong Kong with the mainland’s high-speed railway networks, which link most of the major cities on the mainland.

Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress Michael Tien Puk-sun suggested that a restricted area for mainland customs facilities be set up within Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Terminus of the rail link.

The former chairman of the board of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, which later merged into the city’s sole rail operator, MTR Corporation, said new legislation allowing mainland customs personnel to enforce mainland law in the restricted area was needed.

The MTR, which built the Hong Kong section of the link, confirmed in its quarterly report at the end of 2016 that construction work for the proposed restricted area for mainland customs inside the West Kowloon Terminus was 89 percent complete.

Customs arrangements for the high-speed rail were one of the many important issues discussed during the annual two sessions currently held in Beijing.

Wang also expressed hopes for a smooth and successful Chief Executive race in Hong Kong in accordance with the law.

Wang said that the central government’s requirements for t he SAR’s leader had always been clear and consistent.

Wang said the Chief Executive of the SAR should be someone who loves the country and Hong Kong, is trusted by the central government, has the ability to govern, and enjoys public support.

This year is the 20 th anniversary of Hong Kong’s reunification with the nation. Wang said the event showed that the implementation of “One Country, Two Systems” had been a tremen- dous achievement. The success of this was also recognized by the international community.

Wang urged all sectors of Hong Kong to love the nation and the city, and to unite and jointly safeguard the SAR’s prosperity.

A restricted area for mainland customs facilities could be set up within Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Terminus.” Michael Tien Puk-sun, Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress