Cross-Boundary Passenger Traffic Rises During Festive Period in Hong Kong

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 ◆ Cross-Boundary Passenger Traffic Rises During Festive Period in Hong Kong

A total of 2.6 million people had traveled to and from the Chinese mainland by land during the 7-day Easter festive period from March 27 to April 2, 2002, up 13.2 percent as compared with the same period last year, according to a spokesman for the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Wednesday.

The number of passengers traveling via the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau checkpoints had also increased by 10.3 percent and 33.5 percent respectively over the same period last year.

It is estimated that about 1.94 million people will cross the land boundary checkpoints to and from the mainland during the coming Qing Ming festive period (traditionally observed as a festival for worshipping at ancestral graves) from April 3 to April 8, representing an increase of 12 percent as compared with the same period last year.

Among them, 1.59 million, with a daily average of 265,000, will cross the boundary via the Lo Wu checkpoint.

To cope with the traffic demands, the Immigration Department has arranged 87 officers to reinforce the boundary checkpoints during the festive period through internal deployment.

Besides, the Immigration Department will continue to strengthen cooperation and liaison with the Shenzhen authorities so as to ensure smooth and orderly movements across the boundary, the spokesman added.