Last year, the ministry completed the key stage of upgrades in technology that lets drivers from Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland use passes containing fingerprint and facial image data, said Liu Shuo, vice director at the ministry's technology department. He said computer systems also read license plates as vehicles approach a checkpoint.

This system, installed at some checkpoints in the mainland cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai, has so far processed some 58.94 million vehicles, 12 percent more than average, ministry officials said. One inspector can now check several lanes at once.

"It's very convenient and very precise," Liu said at a press conference in Beijing. "If you go to Hong Kong or Macao, you can see that it's very smooth."

The automated border crossings are part of the ministry's 816 million yuan ($1.02 million) package of technological improvements following 15 years of planning and a central government edict to make the country stronger technologically.

Liu did not say what the checkpoint technology would cost or when its installation would be finished.

The ministry is not planning to extend the automation to China's border checkpoints with other countries, Liu said.