Han Ximin

1824295095@qq.com

NEARLY 100,000 foreign travelers have entered Shenzhen under China’s visa-free entry policy via the West Kowloon Checkpoint in Hong Kong this year, up by 1,530% over the same period last year, data from the checkpoint show. One out of every seven inbound international visitors enjoyed the policy.

Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of the checkpoint at West Kowloon, the Hong Kong terminus of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

This year, the checkpoint has handled a total of 700,000 inbound international travelers so far, a year-on-year increase of 104%.

Over the past six years, the checkpoint has handled over 62.8 million cross-border trips, with a maximum daily passenger flow of 121,000.

To further enhance the convenience of entry and exit, the checkpoint has established channels dedicated to international travelers. Furthermore, customs officers fluent in English, French, Spanish, and other foreign languages are present to assist international travelers with entry procedures.

The West Kowloon Station serves as an international railway passenger checkpoint that operates under the “One Stop, Two Checks” model, where the checkpoint is divided into the Hong Kong Port area and the Mainland Port area. Each jurisdiction independently carries out exit and entry inspections in accordance with their respective legal frameworks.