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Following is a question by the Hon Jeffrey Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, in the Legislative Council today (February 4):
Question:
Some Mainland visitors to Hong Kong and local residents have complained to me that it often takes them half an hour to one hour or more to complete immigration clearance when they enter or leave Hong Kong via the Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau and Shenzhen Bay immigration control points (control points) during weekday peak cross-boundary traffic hours and on holidays. Also, as the Mainland authorities have recently started issuing to Mainland residents the electronic Exit-Entry Permits for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, the number of people using e-channels at the Mainland boundary control points for immigration clearance have increased, resulting in a substantial increase in the time taken for immigration clearance by Hong Kong residents. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the total number and average daily number of Mainland visitors entering and leaving Hong Kong via various land control points in 2014, with a breakdown by control point;
(2) whether the Immigration Department has assessed afresh if the existing manpower at various land control points is sufficient to cope with the volume of work during peak cross-boundary traffic periods; if the Department has assessed, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(3) whether it has discussed with the Mainland authorities the formulation of measures to enhance the efficiency of traveller immigration clearance at the boundary control points of both places, such as diverting Mainland residents and Hong Kong and Macao residents to use different e-channels or increasing the number of e-channels at the Mainland boundary control points; if it has discussed, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) whether it has studied the extension of the opening hours of the Lok Ma Chau, Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay control points, as well as the introduction of other measures to enhance the capacity for traveller immigration clearance of various land control points; if it has studied, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
To cope with the continued passenger growth, the Immigration Department (ImmD) has implemented various measures to enhance clearance capacity of boundary control points (BCPs). In addition to flexible manpower deployment, these measures include improvement works, flexible passenger flow management, launching a new immigration control system (ICONS), extension of e-Channel service, enhancing the workflow for immigration clearance and stepping up publicity efforts, etc. A summary of these measures implemented in recent years is at Annex.
The Administration's reply to various parts of the question is as follows.
(1) The total and daily average numbers of trips (arrival and departure) made by Mainland visitors at various land BCPs of Hong Kong in 2014 are tabulated below:
Land BCPs Number of trips
(arrival and departure)
made by Mainland visitors
[daily average]
--------- -------------------------
Lo Wu 23 637 014
[64 759]
Lok Ma Chau 20 585 553
Spur Line [56 399]
Hung Hom 2 247 211
[6 157]
Shenzhen 18 217 964
Bay [49 912]
Lok Ma Chau 9 326 338
[25 552]
Man Kam To 2 129 784
[5 835]
Sha Tau Kok 1 034 306
[2 834]
Total 77 178 170
[211 447]
(2) The ImmD has been closely monitoring the passenger traffic situation at various land BCPs and the ImmD will, in accordance with the actual situation, deploy manpower flexibly and implement other necessary measures to ease congestion during peak hours. The ImmD's performance pledge at land BPCs is to clear 98 per cent of Hong Kong residents within 15 minutes and 95 per cent of visitors within 30 minutes. On the whole, the performance pledge was met at various land BCPs last year, whilst the waiting time for immigration clearance might be longer during the occasional extreme peak hours of passenger traffic. The ImmD will continue to monitor the situation closely and implement appropriate mitigating measures, as well as to review its manpower and other resource requirements from time to time.
(3) The ImmD has maintained close contact and liaison with relevant Mainland authorities on such matters as the situation on immigration clearance and passenger traffic management at BCPs to ensure smooth arriving and departing passenger flow. We understand that at present, arrangement is in place at the Shenzhen side of the Lo Wu BCP for Mainland and Hong Kong/Macau residents going northbound to use separate automated passenger clearance facilities where possible. The ImmD will continue to relay the relevant suggestion to the relevant Mainland authorities at appropriate junctures.
(4) The Hong Kong SAR Government has been closely monitoring the demand of cross-boundary passengers and has reviewed the opening hours of BCPs from time to time. At present, the Lok Ma Chau BCP is providing round-the-clock passenger clearance service. In 2013 and 2014, the average daily passenger traffic during the overnight period (i.e. from midnight to 6.30am) at the Lok Ma Chau BCP respectively accounted for 16.4 per cent and 15.1 per cent of the daily passenger volume of that BCP. Such figures has remained steady, reflecting that the current opening hours of land BCPs should be able to meet with the demand of cross-boundary passengers. The suggestion of extending the opening hours of other BCPs requires deliberation and coordination between the Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities. Careful consideration on such areas as cross-boundary passenger demands, manpower support, effective use of resources and available transportation arrangement, etc. on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides is required. The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to closely monitor the relevant situation and liaise with the Mainland authorities, with a view to taking forward the relevant deliberation at an appropriate time.
The ImmD will continue to monitor the situation of BCPs and ensure their smooth operation through the aforementioned measures as appropriate.
Ends/Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:50
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