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The Immigration Department spokesman announced today (September 10), "With a view to alleviating the congestion of private car traffic and shortening the waiting time, the operating departments at Lok Ma Chau Control Point, including the Police, Immigration Department, Customs & Excise Department and Transport Department, will, with effect from 12 September, conduct a trial run of the arrangements to require all passengers of cross-boundary private cars to proceed to the terminal building for immigration and customs clearance at certain time slots."

"The said arrangements are conducted on a trial basis to test out the feasibility of improving and enhancing the traffic flow. The trial will tentatively last for two months, excluding the National Day holiday period. The support and cooperation of drivers and passengers concerned would be appreciated," said the spokesman for the Immigration Department.

When the trial is in operation, announcement will be made through the broadcasting system to require drivers and passengers of private cars crossing the boundary to comply with the specified arrangements for immigration and customs clearance.

For private cars not carrying passengers, the driver should, as with present arrangements, drive his car to the relevant private car kiosk lane for immigration and customs clearance.

For private cars carrying passengers, the driver should drive to the specified private car drop-off area to unload his passengers so that they may proceed to the terminal building for clearance. The driver will then drive his car to the relevant kiosk lane for immigration and customs clearance. He will then drive his car to the specified private car pick-up area to pick up his passengers.

The passengers should alight from the car at the specified private car drop-off area, at which each passenger will be issued a tag for easy identification purpose. They may then bring along their travel documents and luggage and proceed to the designated counters in the terminal building for clearance. When presenting for clearance, the passenger should return the tag to the immigration officers at the counter. After clearance, they may then proceed to the specified private car pick-up area to board the car.

End/Tuesday, September 10, 2002

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