Numbers rise

Three months ago, the age limit for using the self-service customs clearance channel was lowered from 11 to 7 to ease the volume of traffic at checkpoints used by schoolchildren from the Chinese mainland who attend schools in Macao.

In the past year, the number of locals and tourists using the checkpoint on the bridge to enter and exit the city has risen constantly, according to the Public Security Police Force of Macao.

By Oct 24, the first anniversary of the opening of the bridge, passenger numbers totaled more than 13 million. Macao residents accounted for 18 percent, while 18 percent were Hong Kong residents and 38 percent came from the mainland. The rest were visitors from other countries, official data show.

The number of passengers using the Macao border checkpoint scaled new heights during Spring Festival, with 78,000 recorded on Feb 7 alone, according to police.

The checkpoint on the bridge has the second-largest passenger volume in Macao after the Border Gate checkpoint, which has helped ease the pressure of visitor numbers, according to local police.

Chau Kin Oi, assistant director-general of the Macao customs, said the opening of the bridge marked a milestone in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

She added that customs authorities in both Macao and the mainland have launched a number of cooperative measures designed to promote the integrated development of the Bay Area.

It is expected that the development will bring greater convenience in terms of goods transportation, tourist travel and economic and trade activities between Macao and Zhuhai.