MKsports Zhuhai's Gongbei Port in South China's Guangdong Province officially operated its pilot card-free channel, as one of the first ports in China to adopt this customs system. Photo: Screenshot from the CCTV News" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2024/2024-11-20/5a2aedf8-fbe7-4b8e-903b-0f2ebcc529f5.jpg" />

Passengers are going through customs at Gongbei Port. At midnight on Wednesday, Zhuhai's Gongbei Port in South China's Guangdong Province officially operated its pilot "card-free" channel, as one of the first ports in China to adopt this customs system. Photo: Screenshot from the CCTV News

At midnight on Wednesday, Zhuhai's Gongbei Port in South China's Guangdong Province launched a pilot "card-free" customs channel, making it one of China's first ports to adopt the new system, according to CCTV News.

Experts described this move as a significant breakthrough in customs clearance, streamlining travel procedures and boosting exchanges for residents of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The "card-free" channels that have been activated include 20 lanes each for departures and arrivals, with plans to open more lanes, local news portal Southcn.com reported.

The new initiative is primarily targeted at frequent travelers who regularly commute to or within Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.

The initiative applies to residents of the Chinese mainland aged 14 or above who hold valid travel permits for Hong Kong and Macao and possess multiple-entry endorsements for purposes including stays, family visits, and business and talent programs, according to a document released by China's National Immigration Administration.

The policy also applies to Hong Kong and Macao residents, including non-Chinese nationals, who hold valid travel documents for the entry to the Chinese mainland and agree to biometric data collection, including facial recognition and fingerprint scanning.

"This pioneering customs policy is a major step for GBA integration, enhancing regional economic development and improving daily convenience for residents," Zhang Lingyun, an executive editor-in-chief of Tourism Tribune, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The approach streamlines verification and enhances the workflow, delivering more efficient customs clearance, while making travel much easier for visitors and maintaining essential security measures, Zhang said.

The initiative is of special significant for those frequently involved in cross-boundary activities, such as employment and business collaboration, highlighting the growing integration among the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, he said.

Last year, Gongbei Port processed more than 100 million passengers, according to data provided by the Gongbei border inspection station under China's Zhuhai General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. 

The number of passenger crossings handled by Gongbei Port reached 92.85 million as of October 29, up by 13.6 percent year-on-year, making the port the busiest checkpoint so far this year, according to local media outlet Yangcheng Evening News.

Global Times