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About 8.4 million people will travel in and out of Hong Kong through land, sea and air control points during the upcoming Lunar New Year festive period, an estimated increase of 9.9% over last year's holiday period.
The Immigration Department said an estimated 5.8 million people would pass through the land boundary control points - an increase of 9.7% over the same period last year.
Between February 6 and 17, about 3.3 million passengers - an average of 270,000 daily - will pass through Lo Wu control point. This represents 56% of the total estimated cross-boundary passenger traffic and is close to the figures recorded in the corresponding period last year. For northbound traffic, the busiest day at Lo Wu Control Point is expected to fall on Lunar New Year's Eve on February 6 when about 200,000 passengers will depart for the Mainland while on February 10 i.e. the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the southbound traffic will be very busy with more than 190,000 people arriving/returning to Hong Kong. The highest daily northbound and southbound traffic is expected to reach 320,000 on February 10.
The department said passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point would also be heavy with a forecast of about 1.4 million passengers, a daily average of 120,000. The number of arriving passengers is expected to reach a peak of 80,000 on February 10.
The two new control points, Shenzhen Bay and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control points, provide more choices for cross-boundary passengers. The Shenzhen Bay control point opens 17.5 hours a day, from 6.30am to midnight. Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point operates 16 hours a day from 6.30am to 10.30pm to facilitate passengers for interchange with the last train of the Shenzhen metro line 4 at 11pm.
To avoid congestion at the Lo Wu control point and Lok Ma Chau control point, the Immigration Department suggests cross-boundary passengers using the new Shenzhen Bay control point and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point 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.
To cope with the anticipated 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 period through internal deployment. Additional security guards will be deployed at some busy control points to provide crowd management support.
The Immigration Department and the Shenzhen authorities will also strengthen their co-operation and liaison to ensure smooth and orderly passenger traffic across the boundary. If necessary, Lo Wu control point will implement the Contra-Flow Scheme to relieve congestion.
In addition, the Immigration Department, the Police, the Customs and Excise Department, the Transport 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.
There are 350 e-channels operating at various control points. The following categories of residents can also enjoy self-service immigration clearance through e-channels: smart identity card holders who are Hong Kong permanent residents aged 11 or above, holders of Documents of Identity for Visa Purposes, people using valid smart identity cards who have the right to land or have unconditional stay in Hong Kong, and non-permanent residents who have been issued with a notification label.
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.
The Immigration Department will upload daily arrival statistics between February 6 and 17 on its website, www.immd.gov.hk, for public reference.
The department reminded the public 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.
Passengers bound for the Mainland should be careful with their personal belongings and avoid carrying over-sized luggage.
Hong Kong residents who travel outside Hong Kong and requiring assistance may call the Hong Kong Immigration Department's 24-hour Hotline at (852) 1868.
Ends/Thursday, January 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:36
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