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An estimated 6.5 million people will travel in and out of Hong Kong through land, sea and air control points during the coming Lunar New Year festive period, an increase of 9% over last year's holiday period.
The department said today (January 25) about 4.62 million people would pass through the land boundary control points, an increase of 9.3% over the same period last year.
The peak period of cross-boundary traffic during the Lunar New Year festive period will fall between January 27 and February 5 when about 2.87 million passengers, an average of 287,000 daily, will pass through Lo Wu control point. It represents 62% of the total estimated cross-boundary passenger traffic and an increase of 2.4% over the corresponding period last year.
The number of departing passengers at Lo Wu control point is expected to reach a peak of 195,000 on January 27, while the peak of arrivals will be on January 31, with 210,000 people returning to Hong Kong. The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 335,000 on January 31.
The department said passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point would also be heavy with a forecast of about 1.44 million passengers, a daily average of 144,000 and an increase of 24% over the same period last year. The peak of departures is expected to be on January 31, with about 80,000 people departing for the Mainland. The number of arriving passengers is expected to reach a peak of 108,000 on February 2.
The Lunar New Year is another "Golden Week Holiday" on the Mainland, so the number of Mainland visitors coming in groups or on an individual basis is expected to increase considerably. An estimated 505,000 Mainland visitors will visit Hong Kong, an increase of 8% over the same period last year. About 290,000 (60%) of the Mainland visitors, are expected to come under the individual visit scheme, up 15% on the same period last year.
To cope with the anticipated traffic demand during the festive period, the Immigration Department has arranged for 141 officers to reinforce the various air, sea and land boundary control points during the holiday period through internal deployment. Among them, 77 officers will be deployed to work in various land boundary control points.
The Immigration Department and the Shenzhen authorities will also strengthen their co-operation and liaison to ensure smooth and orderly passenger traffic across the boundary. If necessary, Lo Wu control point will implement the Contra-Flow Scheme to relieve congestion.
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 departure hall at ground floor 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.
To further enhance passenger flow at land boundary control points, six e-channels were activated at the arrival hall of Lok Ma Chau control point yesterday (January 24) while another six will be in operation at the departure hall from tomorrow (January 26).
One hundred and thirteen e-channels have already been installed at various control points, comprising 58 at Lo Wu, 24 at Macau Ferry Terminal while the remaining e-channels are installed at Lok Ma Chau, China Ferry Terminal, Hung Hom Railway Station and Hong Kong International Airport control points.
By Friday (January 27) there will be 129 e-channels in operation at various control points.
Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above holding smart identity cards can use the e-channels, and now holders of valid Documents of Identity for Visa Purpose (DI) with smart identity cards have been able to enjoy self-service immigration clearance since yesterday (January 24).
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 so as to expedite passenger flow.
The operators have also been reminded to provide forecast of group tours in advance and are urged to observe the relevant requirements in furnishing group lists.
In addition, the Immigration Department, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department, the Transport Department, the KCRC and the Shenzhen authorities have 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.
The Civil Aid Service will increase manpower to assist in providing crowd control service at Lo Wu control point during the festive period.
The Immigration Department will upload daily arrival statistics on its website, www.immd.gov.hk, for visitors' reference 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. People were 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 or Re-entry Permit.
Ends/Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:09
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