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An estimated 3.8 million passengers will pass through land, sea and air control points during the upcoming Easter holiday (April 22 to 25). At Lo Wu, the busiest control point, an estimated daily average of 320 000 passengers will pass through. For outbound traffic, the busiest day at Lo Wu control point is expected to be April 22 when about 210 000 passengers will depart. Inbound traffic will be heavy on April 25, with about 200 000 people arriving Hong Kong. Passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point and Shenzhen Bay control point will also be heavy with a forecast daily average of 120 000, 110 000 and 100 000 passengers respectively.
The Labour Day holiday, which is a public holiday in both Hong Kong and the Mainland this year, forms a long weekend or "Mini Golden Week" between April 30 and May 2, cross-boundary traffic is thus expected to be heavy. Lo Wu will again be the busiest control point with a daily average of about 310 000 passengers. For outbound traffic, the busiest day at Lo Wu control point is expected to be April 30 when about 180 000 passengers will depart. Inbound traffic will be heavy on May 2, with about 170 000 people arriving in Hong Kong. During the same period, an estimated daily average of about 110 000 passenger traffic will pass through Lok Ma Chau control point and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point respectively, while about 98 000 passenger traffic will pass through Shenzhen Bay control point.
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 and kiosks 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, 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 the traffic condition 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 of both of the festive periods 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 Immigration Department's 24-hour hotline at (852) 1868.
Ends/Monday, April 18, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:15
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