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About 6.04 million people are expected to pass through the land, sea and air control points during the Labour Day Festive Period, up 13.8% over the same period last year.
"Among them, 4.68 million will travel by land, an increase of 15.3% over the same period last year," Assistant Director of the Immigration Department Mr Chiu Wai-kai said today (April 27).
The peak period for passenger traffic during the festival will be from this Saturday (April 29) to May 8. It is estimated that about 2.88 million passengers will travel through the Lo Wu control point, an average of 288,000 passengers per day.
The number of departing passengers at Lo Wu is expected to peak at 200,000 on April 29, while the peak of arrivals is expected to fall on May 1 with 210,000 people returning to Hong Kong. The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 340,000 on April 29.
The passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point will also be heavy with a forecast of about 1.54 million passengers (daily average of 154,000), an increase of 24.9% over the same period last year. The number of departures is expected to peak on April 29, with about 89,000 people departing for the Mainland. The number of arriving passengers is expected to reach a peak of 106,000 on May 1. Daily traffic is expected to reach a high of 173,000 on May 5.
Labour Day is "Golden Holiday" on the Mainland, so the number of Mainland visitors coming on an individual basis or in groups is expected to increase considerably. During the festive period, it is estimated that 323,000 Mainland visitors will visit Hong Kong, an increase of 16.0% over the same period last year. Among them, 202,000 are expected to arrive on an individual basis and 30,000 in tour groups, up 27.8% and 24.5% respectively on the same period last year.
To cope with the extra demand, the Immigration Department has arranged staff reinforcements to man the land, sea and air 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, the Customs and Excise Department, the Transport Department, the KCRC and the 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.
Lok Ma Chau control point will activate the "Dual-facing Counter Unidirectional Application" mode during the peak of visitor arrivals. The number of clearance counters for arriving visitors will be increased from 34 to a maximum of 58, with the handling capacity enhanced by 70%. To further enhance passenger flow and operational efficiency at land boundary control points, 20 e-channels (nine for departure and 11 for arrival) have been rolled out outside the departure and arrival halls of Lok Ma Chau control point, which provide 24-hour service starting from April 1. At Lo Wu, there are 104 e-channels set up (50 departure e-channels and 54 arrival e-channels).
As at today, there are 197 e-channels in operation at various control points.
"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," Mr Chiu said.
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 immigration ground floor 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.
Tour operators have been requested to avoid using shuttle buses to convey tour groups via Lok Ma Chau during the festive period. They are also advised to use separate coaches for conveying group members and transit passengers to expedite passenger flow.
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, April 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:24
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