Top legislature endorses joint checkpoint for express rail linking HK and mainland

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Wednesday approved a joint checkpoint for an express rail link connecting Hong Kong with Guangzhou and Shenzhen, marking key progress toward completing long-awaited infrastructure in the area.

The arrangement is in line with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the "one country, two systems" principle, the committee said.

It will enable Hong Kong and mainland customs and immigration clearance procedures to be conducted in one go at the West Kowloon terminus of the 142-km Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, or XRL.