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An estimated 3.69 million people will pass through land, sea and air control points during the Ching Ming festive period, up 8.8% over the same period last year.
The Immigration Department said today (March 30) that about 2.87 million would travel by land, an increase of 9.2% over the same period last year.
The peak period for passenger traffic during the festival will be from April 1 to April 6. It is estimated that about 1.77 million passengers will travel through the Lo Wu control point, an average of 295,000 daily. It represents an increase of 3.3% over the corresponding period last year.
The number of departing passengers at Lo Wu is expected to peak at 190,000 on April 1, while the peak of arrivals is expected to fall on April 2 and 5 with 170,000 people returning to Hong Kong. The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 325,000 on April 1.
The passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point will also be heavy with a forecast of about 940,000 passengers, a daily average of 156,000, an increase of 23.1% over the same period last year. The number of departures is expected to peak on April 1, with about 86,000 people departing for the Mainland. The number of arriving passengers is expected to reach a peak of 102,000 on April 2. Daily traffic is expected to reach a peak of 169,000 on April 1.
To cope with the extra demand, the Immigration Department has arranged staff reinforcements to man the land and sea control points during the festive period. The Immigration Department and the Shenzhen authorities will also strengthen their co-operation to ensure orderly movements across the boundary. If necessary, the Lo Wu control point will implement the Contra-flow Scheme to relieve congestion.
The Immigration Department has, in association with the Police, Customs and Excise Department, Transport Department, the KCRC and Shenzhen authorities, set up a Joint Command Centre at Lo Wu control point. All parties concerned have drawn up contingency measures to handle any untoward incidents and will oversee traffic conditions during the festive period.
Moreover, to further enhance passenger flow and operational efficiency at land boundary control points, e-channels have been rolled out at Lok Ma Chau control point, with six e-channels each installed outside the arrival hall and departure hall. At Lo Wu, there are a total of 98 e-channels set up (44 departure e-channels and 54 arrival e-channels).
By early April, there will be 185 e-channels in operation at various control points. A department spokesman said that Hong Kong permanent residents and holders of valid Documents of Identity for Visa Purpose (DI) aged 11 or above and holding smart identity cards could use the e-channels, which provide simple and fast immigration arrival and departure clearance.
To encourage people to use the automated passenger clearance system, two "Meeting Places" have been set up at Lo Wu control point. They are in the ground floor immigration departure hall and at the KCRC new waiting concourse on the second floor. Those passengers travelling together but using different channels for immigration clearance can easily regroup after clearance formalities.
In view of the limited handling capacity of Lok Ma Chau control point, the Immigration Department suggests cross border passengers use Lo Wu control point to avoid congestion.
The Immigration Department will upload daily arrival statistics on its website, www.immd.gov.hk, for visitors' reference during the festive period.
The Civil Aid Service will increase manpower to assist in providing crowd control service at Lo Wu control point during the festive period.
Passengers bound for the Mainland should be careful with their personal belongings and avoid carrying over-sized luggage, the department said. Passengers are also reminded to take their identity cards and valid travel documents when travelling to the Mainland.
Those in the process of having their identity cards replaced and holding an acknowledgement receipt should bring along a valid travel document. Children under 11 years of age who hold Hong Kong identity cards should carry a valid travel document such as their passport or Re-entry Permit.
Ends/Thursday, March 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:35
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