*********************************************************
An increase of about 6% over last year's corresponding holiday period is expected in passenger traffic through land, sea and air control points during the upcoming Easter festive period.
Between March 21 and 24, cross-boundary traffic is expected to be heavy and there will be about 1.4 million passengers - an average of 348,000 daily - passing through Lo Wu control point. For northbound traffic, the busiest day at Lo Wu Control Point is expected to fall on March 21 when about 220,000 passengers will depart for the Mainland while on March 23 the southbound traffic will be very busy with about 240,000 people returning to Hong Kong. Passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point will also be heavy with a forecast of about 600,000 passengers - a daily average of 138,000. It is expected that most of the travellers will leave for the Mainland via Lok Ma Chau control point on March 21 while the busiest southbound passenger traffic will fall on March 23.
Another festival, Ching Ming, normally attracts massive cross-boundary passengers who visit ancestors' graves. This traditional festival is added to the list of Mainland public holidays this year, forming a long weekend or "Mini Golden Week" between April 4 and 6. An estimated daily average of 326,000 passengers will pass through Lo Wu Control Point while a daily average of 142,000 will pass through Lok Ma Chau Control Point during the period from April 3 to 6. More travellers are expected to use Shenzhen Bay control point and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point, because of their growing popularity.
The Immigration Department will upload daily passenger statistics between March 20 and 25 for Easter and between April 3 and 7 for Ching Ming on its website, www.immd.gov.hk, for public reference.
To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic, the Immigration Department has suspended leave for staff working at control points and has arranged for extra officers to be posted at the airport, sea and land boundary checkpoints during the holiday periods through internal deployment. Additional security guards will be deployed at some busy control points to provide crowd management support.
For closer co-operation and co-ordination during these periods, the Immigration Department, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation will set up a joint command centre at Lo Wu control point. All parties concerned will oversee traffic conditions and have drawn up contingency measures to handle any untoward incidents.
To avoid congestion at the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau control points, the Immigration Department suggests cross-boundary passengers using the Shenzhen Bay and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control points to travel to and from the Mainland. Information on the public transport services to and from these two control points is available at the Transport Department website: www.td.gov.hk.
The department reminded people to bring their identity cards and valid travel documents required for travel to the Mainland or Macau. Hong Kong residents should check the validity of their Home Visit Permits, in particular those under the age of 18 whose Home Visit Permits are valid for three years from the date of issue. Hong Kong residents holding Document of Identity for Visa Purposes and other non-permanent residents must bring along with them their valid smart identity cards and Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel documents.
Those in the process of having their identity cards replaced and holding an acknowledgement receipt should bring along a valid travel document. Children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
There are 351 e-channels operating at various control points. 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 when using the e-channels.
Passengers bound for the Mainland should be careful with their personal belongings and avoid carrying over-sized luggage.
Hong Kong residents who require assistance whilst travelling outside Hong Kong may call the Hong Kong Immigration Department's 24-hour Hotline at (852) 1868.
Ends/Monday, March 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:43
NNNN
