Land departures forecast to peak October 3, arrivals October 4

Land departures are expected to be busiest on October 3 and land arrivals on October 4 during the National Day Golden Week. The Immigration Department forecasts about 7.44 million crossings through sea, land and air control points during the October 1 to 7 holiday, covering movements by Hong Kong residents and visitors rather than 7.44 million individual people.

Land departures are forecast to peak on October 3 at about 587,000, while land arrivals are expected to reach their high point on October 4 at about 586,000. About 6.31 million crossings are forecast through land boundary control points over the holiday.

Three checkpoints are expected to be very busy: Lo Wu Control Point, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Their forecast average two-way traffic is about 220,000, 190,000 and 150,000 crossings a day respectively.

The Immigration Department plans to open additional and temporary inspection counters and vehicle inspection kiosks at land checkpoints during the busiest periods. It has reduced frontline staff leave to allow more flexible deployment and will assign extra security staff to manage passenger and vehicle traffic.

A joint command centre at Lo Wu Control Point will bring together the Immigration Department, Hong Kong Police Force, customs officials and the railway operator. The teams will monitor flows and coordinate diversion or crowd-management measures if required.

Travellers can use the Security Bureau's one-stop border information platform to check average waiting times for passengers and private vehicles at land checkpoints, as well as for shuttle buses at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang crossing. Eligible registered Hong Kong permanent residents can also use the facial-recognition e-channel service in the departure hall of the Hong Kong port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The Immigration Department advises people travelling by land to plan ahead, avoid the busiest periods where possible and check checkpoint information before setting out.