Traffic peak expected at border checkpoints amid Ching Ming Festival

The Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that approximately 4.58 million passengers, comprising both Hong Kong residents and visitors, will pass through the city's borders during the Ching Ming festive period starting this Thursday (Apr 3) untill Sunday (Apr 6).

Around 3.91 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points, ImmD projected. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land control points will be relatively higher on Friday and Sunday, with around 561,000 and 608,000 passengers respectively.

ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 231,000, 211,000 and 149,000 passengers respectively.

Separately, border checkpoints in Shenzhen are expected to see a traffic peak amid the Ching Ming Festival holiday, with an estimated 2.53 million border crossings between Friday and Sunday.

The Shenzhen People’s Government Port Office estimated that the Luohu and Futian checkpoints will become popular crossing points, expecting an average daily passenger volume of about 240,000 and 210,000 during the public holidays.

The mainland authority also projected that from April 4 to 6, approximately 932,000, 835,000, and 763,500 crossings will be recorded at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong land-based borders.

To manage the anticipated peak flow of travelers, the Port Office announced that it has coordinated with inspection units to flexibly allocate personnel, open additional counters and passages, and bolster security staff to maintain order. 

It has also established close communication with ImmD and other relevant authorities to implement diversion measures as necessary, ensuring smooth border crossings.

Meanwhile, Shenzhen ports recorded more than 64 million crossings in the first quarter of this year, with a 15 percent surge in both passenger and vehicle flows year-on-year. 

Travelers from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan made more than 40 million crossings, according to Shenzhen ports statistics.

Ms. Wong, a cross-border commuter from Hong Kong, told Xinhua, China’s state-owned media, that after the “Document-Free Travel” was piloted at Shenzhen Bay Ports, she could pass through customs using facial recognition in under ten seconds, making her experience very convenient.

Following the implementation of various beneficial immigration policies, including extending visa-free transit for foreign nationals to 240 hours (or ten days), 1.57 million foreign nationals crossed during the same period, marking an annual increase of nearly 40 percent.

Of these, over 320,000 were visa-free entries, showing a remarkable 112 percent year-on-year growth.

(Cheng Wong)
(Updated at 10.41pm)