The Huanggang Checkpoint authorities have reduced the number of different categories of border crossers from seven to four in an effort to streamline operations and facilitate passenger flow between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, yesterday's Daily Sunshine reported.

The Huanggang Checkpoint earlier had seven categories: Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, inland residents/Taiwan compatriots, tourist groups, Chinese inland (on business), individual tourists to Hong Kong and Macao, foreigners and official visitors. Now there are only four groups: passport/travel permit/individual tourists to Hong Kong and Macao, tourist groups, family visit permit and official visitors.

The number of categories has been reduced to avoid opening passages that will see few passengers, officials with the general administration of checkpoints were quoted by the Daily Sunshine report as saying. The passage for passport/travel permit/individual tourists to Hong Kong and Macao is a good example of covering as many kinds of passengers as possible so as to increase the passenger-handling capacity, the officials said.

Some passengers told the Daily Sunshine that the new marks identifying the passages for different categories are user-friendly and can help them identify the passages more quickly.

Editor: Donald