Landmark Hong Kong-mainland rail checkpoint deal on track to be finalised

City’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui will sign controversial co-location agreement on Saturday

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Construction work at the West Kowloon Terminus of the high-speed rail project. Photo: EPA

Published: 8:00pm, 17 Nov 2017Updated: 11:53am, 18 Nov 2017

Hong Kong and the mainland will seal a politically contentious deal on Saturday to set up a joint checkpoint for the high-speed rail link to Guangzhou, dismissing critics’ warnings that it undermines the city’s autonomy.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Guangdong province Governor Ma Xingrui will sign the so-called “co-location” arrangement at Government House at noon, marking the first of three steps that will allow mainland officials to exercise immigration and customs jurisdiction over part of the West Kowloon terminus to be leased to them.

The next step would be to secure the endorsement of China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), expected by December.

Critics of the co-location arrangement believe it undermines Hong Kong’s autonomy. Photo: Handout

Enacting the relevant legislation would be the final step, so as to “ensure timely implementation of the co-location arrangement”, “fully unleashing the transport, social and economic benefits” of the cross-border railway, and “maximising convenience to passengers”, according to a government statement issued on Friday.

A government source said the full agreement would not be released before the mainland’s top legislative body endorses it, but “descriptions” of the deal would be provided on Saturday.