The plan to implement the co-location arrangement at the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang Control Point within this year has been postponed.

The move came as the round-the-clock operation has just been put in place and a new vehicular bridge for trucks will be built.

Deputy Secretary for Security Michael Wong told legislators at a meeting today that the arrangement will then be first implemented at the Shenzhen Western Corridor's new control point at Shekou by 2005.

He believed the arrangement will streamline customs and immigration procedures as well as save travellers' time, adding that Hong Kong does not have sufficient land for accommodating new boundary crossing facilities.

Upon commissioning, the control point will house 54 counters for passenger vehicles, 64 for goods vehicles, and a waiting area for 500 vehicles.

For the passenger clearance halls, 91 counters will be set up with automated clearance systems.

Mr Wong stressed that a Hong Kong Management Area within the co-located site at Shekou will be clearly earmarked, and will be managed by Hong Kong according to its own laws.

The construction and project management costs for the facilities will be $2.93 billion. The Government will seek funding from the Legislative Council's Finance Committee in July.