After "Hong Kong 01" first reported that Hong Kong and the Mainland are expected to clear customs as soon as early next year, news of customs clearance from various parties has come one after another. Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics Liao Zhenxin also admitted that he has been making preparations for cross-border transportation such as high-speed rail.
According to sources, station staff, security guards and other employees are being transferred back to the West Kowloon Station of the High Speed Rail. The Luohu Station and Lok Ma Chau Station, which were also closed due to the epidemic, have also returned to work in succession, suspected to be in preparation for customs clearance.
When MTR responded to the arrangement of customs clearance trains, it said that it depends on the development of the epidemic and the arrangement of relevant government measures.
If there is any further information, the company will announce it in due course.
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The Hong Kong High Speed Rail, which opened to traffic in September 2018, has been in operation for one year and four months. Due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, it will be suspended on January 30, 2020. It has been nearly 3 years since then, and the suspension period is longer than the operation period.
The high-speed rail terminus in West Kowloon has also been closed so far. Only open days and part of the time are open for ticket refunds or related local travel itineraries, so you have the opportunity to enter the station.
However, during the high-speed rail outage, there are still daily train operation drills.
West Kowloon high-speed rail has train drills recently
According to sources, because there will actually be trains running at West Kowloon Station, there have always been staff on duty at the station. However, recently MTR has gradually transferred back to West Kowloon Station the station staff and security personnel who had been transferred earlier. It is also reported that the recent train drills ( exercise) frequency increased, and pointed out that the border station of the East Rail Line, that is, the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations, also had the same situation, which may indicate that the customs clearance of the two places is imminent.
In addition, the high-speed rail station outsourcer International Yongsheng Security Management Co., Ltd. published a job advertisement on a recruitment website last month. There are various signs that the high-speed rail station may be reopened in the near future.
The reporter arrived at the West Kowloon Station this afternoon (16th) for inspection. Many entrances and exits were still surrounded by movable iron gates, and they were still closed. However, the entrances facing the West Kowloon Opera Center were also lit.
The reporter could see through the glass that the lights were turned on in the station, and some people stayed in the station, suspected to be filling out documents.
According to the security guard of the high-speed rail station, the high-speed rail station is only open to local tour groups, and the lights at the entrance are due to "weather reasons."
MTR: Resumption of operations depends on the epidemic and government arrangements
In response to inquiries, MTR stated that in response to the government's anti-epidemic measures against the new crown virus epidemic, West Kowloon Station has been closed since January 30, 2020, and the service of the High Speed Rail (Hong Kong section) has also been suspended. The relevant measures are still in effect.
During the service suspension period, in addition to maintaining the necessary operations, the high-speed rail team has been carrying out various maintenance and repairs. At the same time, it has upgraded facilities and strengthened personnel training to keep station facilities, trains, railway systems, and high-speed rail teams in the best condition. Once again, it will provide passengers with safe, reliable, comfortable and convenient high-speed rail services.
As for when operations will resume, the spokesman said, "It depends on the development of the epidemic and the arrangement of relevant government measures. If there is any further information, the company will announce it in due course."
There are many people staying in West Kowloon Station, and some of them are suspected to be filling out documents.
(Photo by Liu Mengting)
Transport and Logistics Bureau: Always be prepared
The South China Morning Post quoted sources as saying that relevant departments are preparing to test the clearance system for all customs checkpoints on the high-speed rail and other sections of the border that extend to Guangdong Province, including the high-speed rail station. The border between Hong Kong and the mainland will be fully reopened next month. Thousands of customs, immigration and police officers will be deployed to land checkpoints in response to an expected surge in traffic as authorities take weeks to prepare for the easing of rules.
Liao Zhenxin, Acting Secretary of the Transport and Logistics Bureau, also responded today, saying that the bureau has "continuously made intensive preparations" for cross-border traffic such as high-speed rail, and can make arrangements as soon as possible after customs clearance.
▼On September 23, 2018, the Hong Kong section of the high-speed rail opened to traffic▼
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