Shenzhen is considering opening a new checkpoint at either Liantang or Shatoujiao in eastern Shenzhen to ease the overburdened checkpoints bordering Hong Kong.

Tang Bingquan, vice governor of Guangdong Province, said at the ongoing annual meeting of the provincial people's congress in Guangzhou that the new checkpoint would enable travelers and vehicles to or from other cities to cross the border without entering downtown Shenzhen.

He believed the move could largely ease the workload of local checkpoints, as well as traffic jams in downtown areas.

Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng confirmed at the same meeting that a feasibility report for an Eastern Corridor is now being carried out by the municipal government and Hong Kong.

"The Luohu, Huanggang and Wenjindu checkpoints are all overloaded," Xu said. "The Western Corridor that is scheduled to open in July can only ease the tense situation a little."

Possible locations for such a checkpoint are Liantang in Luohu District and Shatoujiao in Yantian. The two sites link with expressways to Huizhou and Shantou cities, and other eastern areas of the province.

According to the municipal planning bureau, the new checkpoint would handle 28,000 container trailers every day. However, the consultation and feasibility study will not be finished before early 2008, according to Suen Ming-yeung, secretary for housing, planning and lands of the Hong Kong government.

Traffic jams and air pollution in downtown Shenzhen have been greatly reduced after all container trailers traveling between Shenzhen and Hong Kong were banned from entering the city center last year.

In 2005, more than 41,000 vehicles used the city's checkpoints every day.

Editor: Yan