Shenzhen to Hong Kong

There is a line for foreigners and another place for Chinese nationals. Unlike when going to HK (the lines are on different floors, going to China you can probably just meet after immigration. You can be close enough to keep an eye on each other. Otherwise just agree to meet outside near the subway entrance or next to the "market".

But it seems the OP wants to go from China to HK.

Anyway, the principle is the same: you should count on being in completely separate immigration areas. When I have come through in a similar situation, it hasn't been difficult to find the place where the "streams" come back together and just wait there. Or you could agree to meet at the point where everyone has to go through the boarding turnstile (and have an Octopus card or ticket) to get on the HK MTR. Obviously, it helps if you both have mobile phones and can text each other if something goes wrong......

Gloria, sorry for being off topic but do you (or anyone else) know if your friend needs anything else besides her mainland Chinese passports to enter into HK?

Gloria, sorry for being off topic but do you (or anyone else) know if your friend needs anything else besides her mainland Chinese passports to enter into HK?

That rather depends on where, in China, she is from.

At Lo Wu on the Chinese side, Chinese are on one floor while foreign passport holders are on another floor. Then both groups meet and cross over a covered footbridge to the Hong Kong side. On the Hong Kong side, I think you are both classified the same (non-HK resident), so you should be able to join the same queue.

@mikeysoft
Yes, would depend on where in the mainland (for example, if a Shenzhen resident, relatively easy to get a HK entry permit), or if the person has onward flight tickets from Hong Kong, I think they can also entry with just their travel document.

Thanks for the information so far! Yes, my friend has the correct documents to enter Hong Kong.

drumbrake, is there any obvious place to meet on the bridge across the two sides? Can we definitely meet up there? Since we're going to be in separate places clearing Chinese immigration, we're going to need a plan for where to meet - either on the bridge, or after Hong Kong immigration.

Is the whole system essentially the same at other borders?

The whole system is the same as with all borders. It's not a big bridge, but I don't think you are allowed to stop and wait there for someone. I'd probably meet in Lo Wu Station - it's not that big (http://www.mtr.com.hk/archive/en/services/layouts/low.pdf ). There is also apparently a Starbucks there (I can't say I have noticed it before - I never hang around at that station).

Okay, thanks for the additional tips drumbrake!

As said, there are spots where you're not supposed to linger, so just agree to meet up right in front of the MTR turnstyles. Impossible to get lost.