Hong Kong's controversial bullet train got off to a smooth start on Sunday (Sept 23), as hundreds of passengers whistled north across the border at speeds of up to 200 kph (125 mph), deepening integration of the former British colony with mainland China.

Despite critics’ fears over passenger safety in the mainland zones, hundreds gathered at the terminus in the early morning, with the first train leaving for the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen at 7am (2300 GMT Saturday).

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Railways

A passenger takes a selfie in front of a Vibrant Express train at Guangzhou South Station, South China's Guangdong province, after exiting the Vibrant Express train following its first run from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, Sept 23, 2018.

A new high-speed rail link between Hong Kong and mainland China launched Sunday (Sept 23), a multi-billion dollar project that critics say gives away part of the city’s territory to an increasingly assertive Beijing.

The new bullet trains to southern China promise to be far quicker than existing cross-border rail links, and long-haul services will cut journey times to Beijing from 24 hours to nine hours.

Chinese security have been stationed in semi-autonomous Hong Kong for the first time at the harbourfront West Kowloon rail terminus, as part of a new “special port area” that is subject to mainland law.

A second-class ticket to Shenzhen costs HK$86 (S$15), while travelling to Guangzhou costs HK$247 (S$43) and to Beijing HK$1,237 (S$216).

Passengers gesture as the first train of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link departs from Hong Kong

A second class car of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link 'Vibrant Express' train is shown as two MTR staff members are seen during a media tour in Hong Kong on August 16, 2018. 

Passengers in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station takes a photo on Sunday before boarding the first high-speed train from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland. [

Despite critics’ fears over passenger safety in the mainland zones, hundreds gathered at the terminus in the early morning, with the first train leaving for the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen at 7:00 am (2300 GMT Saturday).

Train attendants walk in the West Kowloon Terminus on the first day of service of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in Hong Kong on September 23, 2018.

Eager passengers wait on Sunday to go through the cross-boundary clearance procedures in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station, to go aboard the very first express train to depart from Hong Kong at 7 am and arrive in Shenzhen North Station, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, at 7:19 am.

Frank Chan Fan (fourth left), secretary for transport and housing of the Hong Kong SAR government, and management for the MTR Corporation, the company that operates the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, hold a ceremony celebrating the first day of operations for the infrastructure link.

A young man surnamed Zhang (second right) poses in a photo with friends at Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station Sunday morning. Zhang and his friends came from Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the previous night, to take the first express train to depart at 7 am Sunday from Hong Kong, back to Shenzhen. 

A smart robot in the Mainland Port Area in West Kowloon Station in Hong Kong provides information and assistance for visitors arriving in Hong Kong via high-speed train, Sept 23, 2018.

A passenger holds his precious ticket inside Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station on early Sunday morning, reveling in the excitement of being aboard the very first high-speed train to leave at 7 am from Hong Kong to Shenzhen North Station. 

Opponents warn that giving away control of land in the heart of Hong Kong is a dangerous precedent as Beijing seeks to tighten its grip on the city following mass pro-democracy protests in 2014 and the emergence of an independence movement.

There are also questions over how Hong Kong citizens will be required to behave in the zones subject to Chinese law, whether they will be punished for using Facebook and Twitter – banned on the mainland – or targeted for wearing clothing with political slogans.

Mainland passengers arriving on early trains were greeted with “I love Hong Kong” mugs in goodie bags and signs welcoming them to the city.

A China policeman patrols a train on the first day of service of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in Hong Kong on September 23, 2018.

A boy poses with a Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail train at West Kowloon Terminus on the first day of rail service in Hong Kong on September 23, 2018.

The special port area was quietly handed over to mainland personnel earlier in September. The flags of Hong Kong (L) and China are seen hoisted outside the West Kowloon train station of the High Speed Rail Link to Guangzhou as sales counters were opened to the public for the first time in Hong Kong on September 10, 2018.

Workers (in yellow and orange) offer assistance as customers queue to purchase tickets after sales counters were opened to the public for the first time inside the West Kowloon train station of the High Speed Rail Link to Guangzhou in Hong Kong on September 10, 2018.

Members of the media take pictures of the 'Vibrant Express' train during a media tour at the West Kowloon terminus in Hong Kong on August 16, 2018.

Reuters

China Daily/Asia News Network

Hong Kong's controversial bullet train got off to a smooth start on Sunday (Sept 23), as hundreds of passengers whistled north across the border at speeds of up to 200 kph (125 mph), deepening integration of the former British colony with mainland China. Despite critics’ fears over passenger safety in the mainland zones, hundreds gathered at the terminus in the...

All aboard: First bullet train linking Hong Kong to Mainland China