Hong Kong maintains 24-hour border clearance for mainland Chinese New Year Golden Week

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan chaired a meeting on Friday to coordinate government efforts for the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, confirming 24-hour clearance at major land and bridge checkpoints and enhanced transport services.

The government will keep existing boundary clearance hours during the Lunar New Year holiday. Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Port will operate 24 hours as usual.

MTR will provide overnight service on most local lines on Chinese New Year’s Eve (February 16) and strengthen services for the February 17 flower parade and February 18 fireworks display. 

The Transport Department has coordinated operators to boost bus and transport links to border crossings.

Chan said visitor numbers are expected to rise significantly during the nine-day Golden Week. 

The government will coordinate port and transport arrangements, maintain close liaison with tourism operators and ensure smooth crowd management, information dissemination and public transport operations.

Estimates from the Immigration Department, Tourism Board and industry suggest around 1.43 million mainland visitors will arrive via sea, land and air checkpoints—an average daily increase of about 6 percent over last year.

Around 2,200 tour groups are expected, with daily group numbers markedly higher than last year’s Labour Day and National Day periods. Major attractions have prepared special crowd management plans.

Due to anticipated sharp increases at Sai Kung’s High Island Reservoir East Dam, Ham Tin Wan and other campsites, police will deploy uniformed officers at peak arrival and departure times at strategic spots on Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung Man Yee Road and East Dam for traffic and crowd control. Management at Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan has been strengthened.