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An estimated 7.27 million passengers will pass through land, sea and air control points during the upcoming Lunar New Year festive period (January 21 to 29). An increase of about 8 per cent over the corresponding holiday period last year is expected. As January 22 to 28 is the Mainland﷿s Lunar New Year Golden Week holiday period, cross-boundary traffic is expected to be heavy.
About 2.43 million passengers, representing an average of about 270,000 each day, will pass through Lo Wu control point, the busiest control point. For outbound traffic, the busiest day at Lo Wu control point is expected to fall on January 21, with about 179,000 passengers leaving Hong Kong. Inbound traffic will be heavy on January 25, with about 195,000 people arriving in Hong Kong.
Passenger traffic at the Shenzhen Bay control point, the Lok Ma Chau control point and the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point will also be heavy, with forecast daily averages of 86,000, 95,000 and 101,000 passengers respectively.
To ensure there is sufficient capacity to meet service demand and further improve the quality of the immigration clearance service, the Department has opened the e-Channel service to more visitors. Eligible Mainland visitors may enroll for the e-Channel service free of charge at Enrollment Offices located at control points with effect from December 5, 2011. With effect from January 3, 2012, Mainland frequent visitors, foreign frequent visitors and Macao permanent residents who have successfully enrolled can perform self-service immigration clearance at the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control points.
To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic, the Immigration Department has minimised the number of control point staff taking leave and will operate extra counters and kiosks to perform immigration clearance during the festive period. Additional security guards will be deployed to provide crowd management support.
To enhance co-operation and co-ordination, the Immigration Department, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation will set up a joint command centre at Lo Wu control point. All parties concerned will closely monitor traffic conditions and take action to ensure smooth passenger flow.
To avoid congestion and a longer waiting time for immigration clearance than usual, the Immigration Department advises all cross-boundary passengers to plan in advance and make their journeys during the less busy periods in the late morning or the early afternoon, and to keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The expected busy times at land boundary control points are available on the website of the Immigration Department at www.immd.gov.hk. In addition, information on public transport services to and from various control points is available on the Transport Department website at www.td.gov.hk. The Immigration Department will upload daily passenger statistics for the above festive periods on its website for public reference.
The department reminds cross-boundary passengers to take their identity cards and valid travel documents when they travel to the Mainland. Hong Kong residents should check the validity of their Home Visit Permits, in particular residents under the age of 18 whose Home Visit Permits are valid for three years from the date of issue. Hong Kong residents holding a Document of Identity for Visa Purposes and other non-permanent residents must take their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
Those in the process of having their identity cards replaced who are holding an acknowledgement receipt, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
There are 391 e-Channels installed at various control points available for use by Hong Kong residents, enrolled Mainland and foreign frequent visitors as well as Macao permanent residents to perform self-service immigration clearance. Re-enrollment is required for enrolled passengers who have received a new identity card so that they can continue using the Express e-Channel.
Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the Hong Kong Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868.
Ends/Friday, January 20, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:55
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