Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Chris Tang Ping-keung, has announced that residents will no longer be required to present both their Hong Kong identity card and their home return permit when crossing the border at the newly revamped Huanggang Port. Under the updated agreement with mainland Chinese authorities, travelers will be able to utilize either document to pass through the checkpoint.

This policy shift was disclosed following a large-scale operational drill held on Saturday, which involved more than 20,000 civil servants testing the efficiency of the crossing. The measure is intended to simplify the transit process for those using electronic channels to enter the mainland or return to Hong Kong. While the announcement focuses on the logistical improvement of border transit, it marks a notable change in the documentation requirements for frequent travelers between the city and the mainland. The government has framed this as a practical step to enhance the convenience of cross-border movement, though the specific timeline for the full implementation of this dual-document flexibility at other ports remains to be seen.