Volunteers turn out to be volunteers at exit-entry ports

177
3
Volunteers turn out to be volunteers at exit-entry ports

A volunteer answers a passenger's question at Shenzhen's Futian port in Guangdong province. Gu Junsong refuses the hongbao or red envelopes with small amounts of money, given by Hong Kong compatriots, after he helped them at the Futian Exit-Entry Port in Futian district of Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

Despite the fact that hongbao is just a small gift during the Chinese New Year, we are volunteers and should set a good image, said Gu, who is a captain of a volunteer team at Futian Exit-Entry Port in Hong Kong.

He said that he felt pride and happiness when the Hong Kong compatriots said thank you'' after I offered them a helping hand.

Gu has been a volunteer for 17 years.

Since Jan 8th, around 130 to 140 volunteers have worked on the front line of the Futian Exit-Entry Port, according to Yi Min, secretary-general of Futian District Volunteer Association.

Most of the volunteers are university students and local residents, and more than half can speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka and English, she said.

More than half are below 45 years old and have worked in other exit-entry ports, major railway stations and airports and transportation hubs on the mainland, Yi said.

ALSO READ: Travel links with SARs to fully reopen.

Yi said her association is still recruiting volunteers to work on the front line of exit-entry ports in the city as the number of passengers and tourists has soared after the country has optimized its COVID 19 measures.

Exit-entry ports in Shenzhen have become the busiest land ports on the mainland.

She said that volunteers will be sent to work and serve passengers at Shenzhen's exit-entry ports after receiving special pre-job training.

Gu said volunteers are happy to learn about the full border reopening between the mainland and Hong Kong starting on Monday. It brings a new sense of happiness and honor to Hong Kong compatriots as well as residents in Shenzhen. READ MORE: Full travel resumption is a 'big step to normal life'

Gu usually comes to work at 6 am wearing a red vest.

Gu said volunteers who live far away from the port have to get up very early to work on time because they are required to come to work on time.

The first batch of passengers from Hong Kong usually arrive in the port at 6: 30 am and begin customs procedures. He said that volunteers are required to welcome passengers before they arrive.

Gu sometimes helps them with their luggage and fills in forms, as well as guiding passengers through customs.

Wheelchairs and medicine have been prepared for pregnant women, the elderly, those with mobility issues and those in need, he said.

Gu said he usually gets off work at around 9: 30 pm.

Gu is tired after work but he still feels happy.

He said that the work of volunteers has been recognized and praised by passengers because of the fact that a bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives others roses.

Two passengers from the US praised the volunteers after being told in English how to take public transportation and were sent to a nearby metro station.

The volunteers provided them with an English version of the tourist map and recommended famous scenic spots in Shenzhen.

The daughter of an 82-year-old Hong Kong resident called the volunteers to express her gratitude after they helped the elderly man with his two large pieces of luggage and took him to the volunteer station for a rest.

Volunteers chatted with him and provided lunch while waiting for his daughter to pick him up. The elderly man had not returned to the mainland for three years.