Travelers using the newly renovated Huanggang Port are required to use authorized public transportation services, including pre-booked licensed taxi fleets, as other ride-hailing options will not be permitted within the boundary control area, according to Hong Kong transport authorities.

Ahead of the port’s scheduled opening on Monday, officials from the Transport Department outlined the available public transport arrangements linking Huanggang Port to various parts of Hong Kong. They emphasized the importance of compliance with the designated transport services to ensure smooth and orderly traffic flow in the restricted area.

Amy Tse Sen-yee, assistant commissioner for transport, explained that inside the port building, a dedicated waiting area for pre-booked fleet taxis has been established. This facility includes a service station and a display panel that provides real-time updates on taxi arrivals. Passengers arriving by taxi can disembark directly at the public transport interchange, while those departing must register their fleet taxi bookings at the service station by showing the vehicle’s registration to taxi ambassadors. These representatives manage the dynamic deployment of taxis from the public transport buffer area to designated pickup points to facilitate efficient boarding.

Authorities also clarified that no pickup zones will be allocated for pre-booked cabs outside of the official taxi fleet system, and ride-hailing services are prohibited within the port’s premises due to security and traffic management considerations. The Transport Department did not provide a direct explanation for limiting ride-hailing services to fleet taxis only.

Hong Kong currently operates five licensed taxi fleets comprising over 2,000 vehicles. These fleets were introduced last year to offer premium services and address longstanding issues faced by passengers, such as selective trip acceptance, overcharging, and lack of electronic payment options.

Both urban and New Territories taxis, in addition to fleet taxis, are required to obtain queue tickets at the public transport buffer area—located approximately a two-minute drive from the port—before proceeding to the taxi ranks. During peak hours, buses, minibuses, coaches, and taxis wait in this buffer zone to prevent congestion on the bridge leading into the port.

At a press conference, Candy Kwok Wai-ying, Deputy Commissioner of Transport, urged travelers to plan their border crossings carefully by selecting appropriate checkpoints and avoiding rushing to use Huanggang Port during its initial operation phase. She also advised commuters to refrain from lingering at major transport interchanges and to allocate sufficient time for customs procedures.