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An estimated 9.31 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 8.7% over last year's holiday period.
The department said today (February 12) that about 6.56 million people would pass through the land boundary control points, an increase of 7% over the same period last year.
The peak period of cross-boundary traffic during Lunar New Year festive period will fall between February 14 and February 27 when about four million passengers, an average of 285,000 daily, will pass through Lo Wu control point. It represents 61% of the total estimated cross-boundary passenger traffic and an increase of 3.4% over the corresponding period last year.
The number of departing passengers at Lo Wu control point is expected to reach a peak of 200,000 on February 16, while the peak for arrivals will be on February 20, with 200,000 people returning to Hong Kong. The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 340,000 on February 20.
The department said passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point would also be heavy with a forecast of about 2.14 million passengers, a daily average of 153,000 and an increase of 13.2% over the same period last year. The peak of departures is expected to be on February 16, with about 84,000 people departing for the Mainland. The number of arriving passengers is expected to reach a peak of 105,000 on February 20.
To cope with the anticipated traffic, the Immigration Department has suspended leave applications from staff working at control points and arranged for extra officers to be posted at the airport, sea and land boundary checkpoints during the holiday period through internal deployment. Additional security guards will be employed at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau control points to provide crowd management support.
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.
In addition, the Immigration Department, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department, the Transport Department, the KCRC and the Shenzhen authorities will set up a Joint Command Centre at Lo Wu control point. All parties concerned have drawn up contingency measures to handle any incidents and will oversee traffic conditions during the festive period.
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.
There are 243 e-channels in operation at various control points. In addition to smart identity card holders who are Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above and holders of Documents of Identity for Visa Purposes, since September 12, 2006, people holding valid smart identity cards who have the right to land or have unconditional stay in Hong Kong, and non-permanent residents who have been issued with a notification label can also enjoy self-service immigration clearance through e-channels.
Passengers whose fingers are too dry, wet or unclean could encounter difficulties with fingerprint verification. To avoid delay, they should moisten, wipe or clean their fingers before entering the e-channels.
Tour operators have been requested to avoid using shuttle buses to convey tour groups via Lok Ma Chau from February 17 to 20. They are also advised to use separate coaches for conveying group members and transit passengers to expedite passenger flow.
The operators have also been reminded to provide forecasts of group tours in advance and are urged to observe the relevant requirements in furnishing group lists.
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/Monday, February 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 10:48
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