Eric Chan inspects Lok Ma Chau border crossing on Lunar New Year’s Day

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki visited the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point on Tuesday, the first day of Lunar New Year, to review crowd management, customs clearance and public order arrangements amid heavy holiday traffic.

Accompanied by Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung, Director of Immigration Benson Kwok Joon-fung, and Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat, Chan met frontline staff from the Immigration Department, Customs and Excise Department, and Hong Kong Police Force.

He extended New Year greetings and thanked them for their dedication in maintaining efficient services during peak arrival and departure periods.

Chan noted government departments had coordinated closely on boundary control point operations, transport links and liaison with travel industry partners to ensure smooth crowd control, information flow and public transport.

The Immigration Department added temporary counters and channels at various crossings to divert passenger and vehicle flows, while frontline officers minimized leave for flexible manpower deployment.

An interdepartmental Joint Command Centre, involving Police, Immigration, Customs and other agencies, began operating on February 14 to monitor real-time conditions and respond swiftly to issues.

The Security Bureau’s Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre and the Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre are also tracking public order and traffic across border points and districts.

Chan urged visitors to plan trips in advance and consider staying overnight to fully enjoy Hong Kong’s festive atmosphere and unique appeal. He recommended the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Chinese New Year webpage and the Security Bureau’s “Easy Boundary” platform for real-time waiting times, opening hours and transport information to reduce delays.

He expressed appreciation to government staff and industry workers for their efforts during the holiday and wished for national stability, economic prosperity and success for the community.