NPC Standing Committee to Review Bill Authorizing Hong Kong Jurisdiction over Redeveloped Huanggang Port

The Standing Committee of China’s 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) will convene its 23rd session from June 23 to 26 in Beijing, where it is expected to review a draft decision authorizing the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to exercise jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Port Area at the redeveloped Huanggang Port and related extended zones.

The agenda was finalized at the 68th meeting of the NPC Standing Committee’s Council of Chairpersons, held on June 16 at the Great Hall of the People and chaired by Zhao Leji. According to Xinhua News Agency, the session will also examine multiple other legislative items, including draft revisions to the Trademark Law, Certified Public Accountants Law, Government Procurement Law, Bidding and Tendering Law, and People’s Bank of China Law, as well as new drafts on procuratorial public interest litigation, Antarctic activities and environmental protection, national fire and rescue personnel, and a financial law.

Additional items include reviews of the 2025 central government final accounts and audit reports, progress on the “Eighth Five-Year” legal education campaign, the development of a unified national market, and a pilot program allowing Hong Kong and Macau lawyers to practice in nine cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Reports on Zhao Leji’s recent visits and other routine matters will also be considered.

Focus on Huanggang Port Upgrade

The Huanggang Port authorization is a key Hong Kong-related item. As the only 24-hour land crossing between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the redeveloped facility will adopt a “co-location” arrangement featuring collaborative inspection and joint clearance. This model is projected to slash passenger clearance times from around 30 minutes to approximately five minutes.

The new joint inspection building has been powered up and is undergoing equipment testing, with construction progressing rapidly. Once operational, the port is designed to handle an average of 200,000 passenger trips daily, with peak capacity reaching 300,000. Hong Kong authorities aim to launch the streamlined service as early as late July, following NPC approval and subsequent local legislative procedures in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong NPC deputy Li Huiqiong welcomed the inclusion of the bill, describing it as a timely measure reflecting the central government’s strong support for Hong Kong’s development and the convenience of cross-boundary travel. “This is an important initiative that benefits both the people and Hong Kong,” she said, expressing hope for swift passage to lay the legal foundation for smoother operations.

The upgrade aligns with broader efforts to enhance connectivity in the Greater Bay Area and respond to long-standing public demands for more efficient border crossings.

The NPC Standing Committee session is expected to deliver decisions on the reviewed items by its conclusion on June 26.