The Shenzhen Bay Port and the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, which is also known as the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor, has commenced operation on July 1.

The Shenzhen Bay Port was opened after a ceremony at noon on July 1, and passenger and cargo clearance facilities was opened for public use from 6 p.m.

The Shenzhen Bay Port initially runs for 17.5 hours a day, from 6:30 a.m. to midnight. Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides will assess when to provide a 24-hour service after the Port has been in operation for some time.

To allow sufficient time for the clearance of passengers and vehicles before the closure of the Shenzhen Bay Port at midnight, the Shenzhen Bay Bridge will be closed to northbound traffic at 11: 30 p.m. every night, including July 1.

When the Shenzhen Bay Port is commissioned, passengers can cross the boundary through the new crossing by taking cross- boundary coaches, franchised buses, green minibuses or taxis.

Hong Kong's immigration and customs facilities will be co- located with those of the Chinese mainland at the Shenzhen Bay Port under the co-location arrangement, the first of its kind to be implemented at control points.

Various departments and units from Hong Kong and Shenzhen have conducted joint trial runs and drills to familiarize themselves with the operation of this new infrastructure.

The 5.5 kilometer-long Shenzhen Bay Bridge is the fourth vehicular boundary crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. It links the new control point at the Shenzhen Bay Port in Shekou with Ngau Hom Shek in the northwest New Territories.

It is expected that two-way daily traffic and passenger flows will be 29,800 vehicles and 30,800 passengers during the initial period of opening. The anticipated traffic and passenger flows will increase to some 60,300 vehicles and 61,300 passengers each day in 2016.