"ID-free" channel to be pilot tested next Wednesday, Chen Hengbin: hope to expand to busier ports in the future.

The National Immigration Administration announced that starting from November 20, at the Shenzhen Bay Port and Gongbei Port, a "no need to show documents" border control channel will be piloted. Eligible residents of Hong Kong and Macau can choose to use the border control channel without showing physical travel documents if they agree to have their facial and fingerprint information collected and verified by the border inspection authorities. Chan Hang-pan, chairman of the Legislative Council's Transport Committee, believes that the new arrangement will be very helpful for frequent travelers, especially those who reside in mainland China, work in Hong Kong, or frequently work in mainland China. The passage will be more convenient and faster, and the flow of people at the border control points can also be accelerated. Even if one forgets to bring their physical documents in the future, it will not prevent them from passing through. Chan Hang-pan believes that if the pilot plan is successful, similar arrangements could be expanded to busier ports in the future. Tse Ting-bong, the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, believes that the new measures will greatly help tour groups, as many groups are made up of families and individuals. Using facial recognition methods can speed up the clearance process. In addition, there are many elderly people in Hong Kong who frequently travel to and from mainland China, but some of them may have unclear fingerprints. Facial recognition can provide a more convenient option for them. Smoother clearance procedures can enhance the overall travel experience and attract more people to travel.