The opening of the Heung Yuen Wai Control Point marked a milestone in cooperation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shenzhen, Guangdong province, as the new cross-boundary facility will further facilitate the flow of cargo and people within the region, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Wednesday.

The new control point, named Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point in Hong Kong and Liantang Port in Shenzhen, is the seventh land-based control point on their border.

The new crossing, which has been under construction since 2013, started operating at 4 pm on Wednesday, but because of COVID-19 restrictions, only cargo trucks are currently allowed.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lam said the new port would greatly reduce travel time between eastern Hong Kong and eastern Shenzhen and strengthen Hong Kong's collaboration with neighboring mainland cities.

Lam said the opening represents another major step in achieving the "one-hour living circle" plan within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, offering a key infrastructure link for regional development.

After the control point opens to travelers and private cars, the facility will have the capacity to handle daily traffic of 30,000 passengers and 17,850 vehicles, including 15,000 trucks, 2,000 cars and 850 buses.

Shenzhen customs has installed updated surveillance equipment that can detect contraband materials without the need to open containers for inspection. Passenger areas are 5G ready for commuters' convenience.

Located in the east of both cities, the new crossing was built mainly to ease the flow of cargo at two existing ports: the 42-year-old Man Kam To Control Point and the 35-year-old Sha Tau Kok Control Point.

Stanley Chaing Chi-wai, chairman of the Lok Ma Chau China-Hong Kong Freight Association, estimated that the transit time through the new control point would be 45 to 50 minutes less than through Sha Tau Kok point as the new port is directly connected to highways on both sides.

Chaing said the industry is looking forward to the improvement of service and facilities in the vicinity, such as service stations and shopping malls to facilitate customs clearance for cargo drivers.

Tsang Yuk-on, vice-chairman of Sha Tau Kok District Rural Committee, believes the new crossing will boost the travel industry in the eastern parts of Hong Kong and Shenzhen, which have abundant travel resources such as beautiful beaches and mountains.

He hopes the control point will open to passengers and private cars as soon as possible after the pandemic.

Kathy Zhang contributed to this story.