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Ching Ming, often known as "grave-sweeping day", is a public holiday in both Hong Kong and the Mainland, and this year forms a long weekend or "Mini Golden Week" between April 3 and 5. Cross-boundary traffic is thus expected to be heavy during the upcoming Ching Ming Festival holiday period (April 2 to April 5).
An estimated 1.36 million passengers - an average of about 340,000 daily - will pass through Lo Wu control point. For outbound traffic, the busiest day is expected to fall on April 4 when about 205,000 passengers are expected to depart. Inbound traffic will be heavy on April 5, with about 200,000 people arriving Hong Kong.
During the same period, an estimated daily average of about 120,000, 110,000 and 95,000 passenger traffic will pass through Lok Ma Chau control point, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point and Shenzhen Bay control point respectively.
To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic, the Immigration Department has minimised the number of staff taking leave at boundary control points and will operate extra counters to perform immigration clearance during the holiday period. Additional security guards will be deployed to provide crowd management support.
To facilitate enhanced co-operation and co-ordination, the Immigration Department, Police, Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation will set up a joint command centre at Lo Wu control point. All parties concerned will closely monitor the traffic conditions so as to ensure smooth passenger flow.
To avoid congestion and a longer waiting time for immigration clearance than usual as traffic at control points is expected to be heavy, the Immigration Department advises all cross-boundary passengers to plan in advance and make their journeys during the less busy periods in the late morning or early afternoon, and to keep track of radio/TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. The expected busy times at land boundary control points are available on the website of the Immigration Department www.immd.gov.hk. In addition, information on public transport services to and from various control points is available on the Transport Department website www.td.gov.hk .
The Immigration Department will upload daily passenger statistics from April 2 to April 5 on its website www.immd.gov.hk for public reference.
The department reminds cross-boundary passengers to take their identity cards and valid travel documents when they travel to the Mainland. 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 a Document of Identity for Visa Purposes and other non-permanent residents must take their valid smart identity cards as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel documents.
Those in the process of having their identity cards replaced who are holding an acknowledgement receipt, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
There are 375 e-Channels installed at the various control points. Re-enrolment is required for enrolled passengers who have received a new identity card to continue using the Express e-Channel.
Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the Hong Kong Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868.
Ends/Monday, March 28, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:16
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