The Planning Department today (December 29) published a publication entitled "Northbound Southbound 2015", which presents the results of the Cross-boundary Travel Survey 2015.
 
     The Survey was carried out at 10 immigration control points from November 25 to December 8, 2015. During the two-week survey period, daily averages of 701 600 cross-boundary passenger trips (comprising 648 800 trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland and 52 800 trips between Hong Kong and Macau) and 43 200 cross-boundary vehicle trips were recorded.
 
Passenger trips
 
     A daily average of 701 600 cross-boundary passenger trips was recorded during the survey period, representing a growth of 6.6 per cent over that in the 2013/14 Survey. Among these trips, 92.5 per cent were passenger trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland and the remainder were between Hong Kong and Macau.
 
     Over half (52.2 per cent) of cross-boundary passenger trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland were made by People Living in Hong Kong. Another 30.2 per cent were made by Visitors from the Mainland, 15.5 per cent were by Hong Kong Residents Living in the Mainland and 2.0 per cent were by People Living in Other Places. As compared with the 2013/14 Survey, these passenger trips increased by 7.3 per cent.
 
     For trips between Hong Kong and the Mainland made by People Living in Hong Kong, 40.6 per cent were for leisure, followed by visiting relatives and friends (30.4 per cent) and business (16.8 per cent). Shenzhen remained the most common trip start and end in the Mainland, accounting for 68.9 per cent of the trips. A daily average of 173 100 trips (51.1 per cent) were same-day trips.
 
     A daily average of 196 200 passenger trips was made by Visitors from the Mainland with 64.5 per cent under the Individual Visit Scheme, including 36.0 per cent using one-entry or two-entry endorsements, 16.2 per cent using "one trip per week" Individual Visit Endorsements and 12.3 per cent using "multiple-entry" Individual Visit Endorsements. Regarding trip purposes, 64.8 per cent of Mainland visitors came to Hong Kong for leisure, 17.1 per cent for visiting relatives and friends and 7.6 per cent for business. A daily average of 123 600 trips (63.0 per cent) were same-day trips.
 
     For trips made by Hong Kong Residents Living in the Mainland, 89.7 per cent of them started from Shenzhen. They mainly travelled to Hong Kong for schooling (39.0 per cent), work (23.2 per cent) and leisure (15.5 per cent). As compared with the 2013/14 Survey, the number of cross-boundary students increased by 35.5 per cent to 27 790.
 
     Rail-based control points remained the most popular control points with 34.3 per cent using the Lo Wu Control Point and 27.8 per cent using the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. The proportions of trips using the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and the Lok Ma Chau Control Point were 15.9 per cent and 11.2 per cent respectively.
 
     The Survey found that there were 875 900 frequent cross-boundary travellers who usually travelled at least once a week between Hong Kong and the Mainland during the survey period, representing an increase of 18.7 per cent when compared with the 2013/14 Survey. Among all frequent cross-boundary travellers, 64.0 per cent were living in Hong Kong. In particular, 34.0 per cent of them were frequent leisure trip makers, 24.3 per cent were frequent business trip makers, 22.9 per cent were other frequent trip makers, 15.0 per cent were extended home-leavers (visiting family members/relatives) and 3.8 per cent were cross-boundary workers. The other 36.0 per cent of frequent cross-boundary travellers were living in the Mainland, and among them 43.0 per cent were frequent leisure trip makers, 16.0 per cent were other frequent trip makers, 13.9 per cent were extended home-leavers, 10.0 per cent were frequent business trip makers, 8.8 per cent were cross-boundary students and 8.2 per cent were cross-boundary workers.
 
Vehicle trips
 
     In the 2015 Survey, there was a daily average of 43 200 cross-boundary vehicle trips recorded at the road crossings, representing an increase of 2.8 per cent as compared with that in the 2013/14 Survey. The number of private car trips increased to a daily average of 18 900 in the 2015 Survey, goods vehicle trips increased to 12 400, and coach trips increased to 3 300. On the other hand, container truck trips decreased to 7 900. Trips by private cars constituted the largest share of vehicle trips (43.7 per cent), followed by goods vehicles (28.8 per cent), container trucks (18.4 per cent) and coaches (7.6 per cent).
 
     50.7 per cent of private car trips used the Lok Ma Chau Control Point. Another 39.9 per cent used the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. For trips made by vehicles carrying goods, 64.7 per cent used the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and 20.7 per cent used the Man Kam To Control Point.
 
Further information
 
     The Cross-boundary Travel Survey 2015 collected statistical information about the patterns of cross-boundary trips as well as the socio-economic profiles of the trip makers. It provides reference data for bureaux/departments and other stakeholders to better understand cross-boundary travel activities, which is crucial to planning work relating to cross-boundary transport infrastructure, community and tourism-related facilities.
 
     A total of 69 900 passengers and 16 600 drivers were interviewed during the Survey.

     Due to seasonal fluctuations, the number of average daily cross-boundary trips observed during the two-week period may not be representative of the situation for the whole year. Caution should be exercised in interpreting the apparent changes as compared with previous surveys.
 
     The publication "Northbound Southbound 2015" as well as statistical tables containing detailed findings from the 2015 and previous Cross-boundary Travel Surveys have been uploaded to the website of the Planning Department (www.pland.gov.hk). Members of the public can access the publication and the tables direct at www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/p_study/comp_s/nbsb2015/index.html.

Ends/Thursday, December 29, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:31

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