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An estimated 6.12 million people will cross various land boundary control points to and from the Mainland during the coming Christmas and New Year festive period, an increase of 12.2% over the same period last year, Commander of Border Division, Immigration Department, Mr Corrado Chow, said today (December 22).
The peak period for cross-boundary traffic during the Christmas and New Year period would be from today (December 22) to January 3, 2006.
It is estimated that about 3.87 million passengers, an average of 298,000 daily, will use the Lo Wu checkpoint. The figure represents 63% of total estimated cross-boundary passenger traffic.
The number of departing passengers at Lo Wu may reach a peak of 200,000 on Saturday (December 24), while the peak of arrivals will be on Tuesday (December 27), with 205,000 people returning to Hong Kong. The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 340,000 on Saturday.
Passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau checkpoint will also be heavy with a forecast of about 1.86 million passengers, daily average of 143,000. The peak of departures is expected to fall on Christmas Day, with about 96,000 people leaving for the Mainland. The number of arriving passengers is expected to reach a peak of 101,000 on Tuesday.
To avoid congestion at the Lok Ma Chau control point, Mr Chow appealed to visitors, especially Mainland visitors, to use Lo Wu control point, which has more capacity to handle visitors.
To cope with the anticipated traffic demand during the festive period, the Immigration Department has arranged for 124 extra officers to be posted at the airport, sea and land boundary checkpoints during the holiday period through internal deployment.
To facilitate immigration clearance during the festival period, the department invites Hong Kong residents of aged 11 or above holding permanent smart identity cards to make use of the 76 e-channels installed at Hung Hom, Lo Wu, China Ferry Terminal and Macau Ferry Terminal control points.
Mr Chow reminded people that passengers whose fingers were too dry, wet or unclean would encounter difficulties with fingerprint verification. To avoid delay, they should moisten, wipe or clean their fingers before entering the e-channels.
The Immigration Department and the Shenzhen authorities will also strengthen their co-operation and liaison to ensure smooth and orderly movements across the boundary. If necessary, the Lo Wu checkpoint 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, KCRC and the Shenzhen authorities formed a Joint Command Centre at Lo Wu checkpoint. The parties have drawn up contingency measures to handle any untoward incidents and will oversee traffic conditions during the festive period.
Passengers bound for the Mainland should be careful with their personal belongings and avoid carrying over-sized luggage, Mr Chow said. They are also reminded to bring along their identity cards and valid travel documents required for travel to the Mainland.
Those in the process of having their identity cards replaced and holding an acknowledgment 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.
Those holding non machine-readable multiple Re-entry Permits issued before December 17, 2001, are advised to apply early for a free add-on machine-readable label, to shorten their immigration clearance time. Application forms are available at the Information and Liaison Section at Immigration Headquarters, the six Immigration Branch Offices, District Offices and main Post Offices or they can be downloaded from www.immd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, December 22, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:31
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