About 3.69 million people are expected to pass through Hong
Kong's immigration checkpoints during the
Ching Ming Festival, a traditional Chinese festival, up 8.8
percent over last year, the Immigration Department said
Thursday.
Among the total, 2.87 million are expected to travel by land, up
9.2 percent, the department said.
The peak period for passenger traffic will be from April 1 to
April 6. About 1.77 million passengers will travel through Lo Wu
checkpoint, a daily average of 295,000, up 3.3 percent.
Departing passengers at Lo Wu are expected to peak at 190,000 on
April 1, while arrivals will peak April 2-5 with 170,000 people
returning to Hong Kong. Highest daily traffic is expected to reach
325,000 on April 1.
Lok Ma Chau checkpoint will see about 940,000 travelers, a daily
average of 156,000, up 23.1 percent. Departures to the Mainland are
expected to peak on April 1 with about 86,000 people, while
arriving passengers are expected to reach a peak of 102,000 on
April 2. Daily traffic is expected to reach a high of 169,000 on
April 1.
The department has arranged staff reinforcements to major land
and sea checkpoints during the festive period.
The Lo Wu checkpoint will implement the contra-flow scheme to
relieve congestion if needed. The department has, in association
with Police, Customs, the transport department, the Kowloon-Canton
Railway and Shenzhen authorities, set up a joint command center at
Lo Wu, and contingency measures have been formed to handle any
untoward incidents.
To enhance passenger flow and operational efficiency at land
boundary control points, e-channels have been rolled out at Lok Ma
Chau, with six e-channels each installed outside the arrival hall
and departure hall. At Lo Wu, there are 98 e-channels, including 44
for departure and 54 for arrival.
(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2006)
