Fingerprint scans required at Gongbei Checkpoint

Gongbei Checkpoint began collecting fingerprints of inbound foreign passengers aged between 14 and 70 on April 30, it was announced by the Zhuhai General Station of Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection on April 27.

The policy, which is in response to the country's demand to strengthen entry and exit administration, was approved by the State Council in accordance with the Exit & Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China. Border control authorities nationwide are implementing the policy incrementally, according to a notice posted on the PRC Ministry of Public Security website on Feb 9.

Nonetheless, those who fall under any of the following categories can be exempted: those holding diplomatic passports, Chinese diplomatic visas, or courtesy visas; beneficiaries of reciprocal agreements; foreign officials at vice-ministerial level or above and delegation members led by them who go through entry procedures as a group; people with incomplete prints on all 10 fingers; or other exceptional circumstances approved by the PRC Ministry of Public Security.

Fingerprint collection [Photo by Zhao Zi / Zhuhai Daily]

The Zhuhai General Station of Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection has already completed the necessary preparations. These included upgrades to immigration inspection systems, installment of fingerprint collection devices, adjustment of the inspection passage layout, as well as the updating of directory signs.

Gongbei Checkpoint has the largest border-crossing volume in the country. Statistics show that 1.6 million foreigners passed through the checkpoint in 2017. Other Zhuhai checkpoints in Hengqin, Wanshan, Doumen, Jiuzhou Port, and the Zhuhai-Macao Cross-Border Industrial Zone began taking fingerprints last year.