****************************************************
The results of a survey released by the Planning Department today (September 4) showed that the share of visitors from the Mainland continued to increase and comprised 16% of all cross-boundary passenger trips. More than half of these trips were for leisure.
The Cross-boundary Travel Survey 2007, conducted last November and December revealed that 6.9 million, or a daily average of 490,900, cross-boundary passenger trips were made during the two-week survey period, an increase of 10% over that in the 2006 survey.
Trips by people living in Hong Kong still took up the largest share, constituting 71% of all cross-boundary trips. Half of them were for leisure, followed by business (22%) and trips to visit relatives and friends (17%). Shenzhen remained the most common trip destination, accounting for about two-thirds of the trips.
Compared with the 2006 survey, the number of trips by visitors from the Mainland increased by 18%, reaching on average 76,800 a day, of which more than half were under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS). By trip purpose, 54% of visitors from the Mainland came to Hong Kong for leisure, 18% for business and 17% to visit relatives and friends.
Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau continued to be the busiest control points, taking up 51% and 23% of the passenger trips respectively. However, when compared with the 2006 survey, their share had fallen from 56% and 30% respectively, due mainly to the opening of new Shenzhen Bay in July last year and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point in August 2007.
There were 662,400 frequent travellers, who usually travelled at least once a week between the Mainland and Hong Kong, in the 2007 survey. The most common trip purposes of these travellers were leisure (39%) and business (32%).
The number of cross-boundary students has surged in recent years. In the 2007 survey, there were 6,300 students crossing the boundary via various control points and Chung Ying Street to attend schools in Hong Kong - an increase of 28% when compared with 4,900 in the 2006 survey.
Cross-boundary vehicle trips increased by 6% in the 2007 survey when compared with the 2006 survey. Private car trips surged by 21%, reaching on average 14,100 a day. On the other hand, trips by container trucks and other goods vehicles both dropped slightly, by 3% and 1% respectively.
The survey was carried out at 11 immigration control points from November 19 to December 2, 2007. A total of 55,600 passengers and 16,100 drivers were interviewed during the two-week survey period. Information was taken from the respondents about the trips they were making and their usual cross-boundary travelling patterns. Data on their socio-economic characteristics, including age, sex, usual place of residence and occupations, were also collected.
It was the fifth of the series of Cross-boundary Travel Surveys launched by the Planning Department. Previous surveys were conducted in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2006.
The survey results will be carefully analysed for updating the input to government planning activities relating to cross-boundary travel.
A publication entitled "Northbound Southbound 2007" presenting the key findings of the survey can be downloaded free of charge on the Planning Department website (www.pland.gov.hk).
A print version of this publication is also available for public inspection at the Planning Enquiry Counter, Planning Department, 17th Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point.
Ends/Thursday, September 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:30
NNNN
