No problems were caused at Gongbei Checkpoint when tourist endorsements for Zhuhai individuals or groups to visit Macao were allowed by the National Immigration Administration starting Aug 12.

Daily passenger volume at the checkpoint in August exceeded 200,000, half the pre-COVID-19 outbreak count. Most border crossers are Macao residents and commuters from the Chinese mainland. The foot traffic is forecast to further increase with resumption of tourist endorsements across Guangdong Province on Aug 26, and across the country from Sept 23.

Moreover, Gongbei Checkpoint remains the top choice for most Macao-bound travelers due to geographical and traffic factors, said Wang Yuchun, deputy head of Zhakou Customs.

Fast QR code scan at Gongbei Checkpoint [Photo by Cheng Lin & Wu Bo to Guanhai App]

In response to the rebounding passenger volume, Gongbei Checkpoint has expanded the Health Code Inspection area, which greatly increases efficiency for inbound travelers at peak evening times. The layout of Entry-Exit Inspection, Temperature Monitoring, and buffer areas has been optimized, signals updated, and dedicated channels opened for schoolchildren and seniors.

Gongbei Customs reminds people to check the validity of travel permits and nucleic acid test results and prepare health codes in advance. They are advised to avoid peak hours from 6 to 8 am and 5 to 9 pm or detour to Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port and Hengqin Checkpoint during those periods.

The new Hengqin Checkpoint at 2050 East Huandao Road will open at 3 pm Aug 18.

The Zhuhai General Station of Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection and Macao Public Security Police Force have meanwhile completed preparations for the official opening of the new checkpoint, with more than 200 technical debuggings and over 16,000 border crossings. A fourth two-hour capacity test was conducted Wednesday in which entry-exit flow of all 13 staffed, eight jointly staffed, and 48 self-service channels ran smoothly.