Additional counters open at crossings to handle increased passenger traffic

Hong Kong authorities and public transport operators will step up services from Wednesday, the eve of National Day, to cope with increased passenger flows during the Chinese mainland’s seven-day holiday. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and depart early to avoid congestion.

The city’s Immigration Department expects around 7.44 million cross-boundary trips through sea, land and air control points during the Golden Week holiday.

On Tuesday, the special administrative region government’s interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements outlined measures they are taking to manage the expected surge in passenger and vehicle traffic.

READ MORE: HK expects 7.44m travelers during National Day Golden Week

Inbound travel is expected to peak on Sunday afternoon and evening, when passengers may face longer waits for public transport.

Of the expected cross-boundary travel, around 6.31 million trips are expected to be made through land control points. Average daily passenger traffic at the Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay control points is forecast to reach 220,000, 190,000 and 150,000 respectively.

Additional counters and vehicle-clearance kiosks will be open at land crossings, the department said.

The MTR Corp will enhance train services on the East Rail Line, which runs from Admiralty on Hong Kong Island up to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations, from Wednesday through Oct 7, depending on demand.

High-speed train services between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Shenzhen’s Futian and Shenzhenbei stations will be increased. Premium overnight high-speed sleeper trains G898 and G897, which normally operate between Beijingxi Station and Hong Kong on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, will run daily during the holiday.

The frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus will be increased to one every minute and one every two minutes, respectively, during peak hours.

ALSO READ: Enhanced transportation, cross-boundary arrangements for holiday travelers

Travelers are advised to check waiting times and traffic conditions in advance through Easy Boundary, a one-stop information platform for immigration clearance, or the HKeMobility app.

In addition, a 23-minute National Day fireworks display will take place at 8 pm on Thursday to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Special traffic arrangements and phased road closures will be implemented on Wednesday and Thursday on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon.

Contact the writers at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com