Holiday travelers in Hong Kong are set to face a massive influx of traffic this Christmas and New Year’s season, with the Immigration Department estimating a staggering 13.07 million passengers passing through land, sea and air control points.
Of those, around 11.06 million are expected to traverse the city’s land boundary control points (BCPs), straining an already overburdened system.
“The sheer volume of people moving in and out of Hong Kong during this period is simply staggering,” said immigration official, Lee Siu-ming. “We’re bracing for a true traffic nightmare unless travelers plan ahead.”
The busiest day for outbound traffic is predicted to be December 25, when approximately 595,000 passengers will depart the city. Inbound traffic is expected to peak on December 29, with 626,000 arrivals.
Certain BCPs will bear the brunt of the onslaught, with the Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay control points each forecasting daily averages of 235,000, 203,000 and 131,000 passengers respectively.
In a bid to ease the chaos, the Hong Kong government has discussed extending service hours at select BCPs with authorities in Shenzhen. This includes keeping the Shenzhen Bay Control Point open overnight and the Lo Wu Control Point operating until 2am on New Year’s Eve.
“We’re pulling out all the stops to accommodate the influx,” said immigration chief, Lam Wai-chung. “Minimizing staff leave, deploying extra counters and security – we’re doing everything in our power to keep things flowing smoothly.”
A joint command center will also be established at the Lo Wu BCP, with police, customs and the MTR Corporation coordinating efforts to manage the crowds.
Travelers are strongly advised to plan their journeys in advance and avoid peak travel times if possible. With such an overwhelming number of people on the move, even the best-laid plans may be tested this holiday season in Hong Kong.
Over 13m travellers expected
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The Immigration Department estimates that 13.07 million passengers will pass through land, sea and air control points during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.