(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-23 20:38

HONG KONG -- A total of 9.8 million people are expected to cross Hong Kong's land, sea and air checkpoints during the upcoming mid-autumn festival and National Day Golden Week holiday period, according to the Information Services Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Sunday.

The figure is 16.6 percent higher than last year's same period.

According to the department, the Immigration Department estimated that about 7.6 million people will pass through land boundary checkpoints, 18.6 percent up compared with the figure of the same period last year.

Cross-boundary traffic will peak from September 24 to October 8 with about 4.14 million passengers passing through Lo Wu control point, which represents 55 percent of the total estimated cross-boundary passenger traffic and a 3.7 percent rise year on year.

Passenger flow at Lok Ma Chau control point will also be heavy with a forecast of about 2.1 million passengers, a daily average of 141,000, according to the Immigration Department.

The Immigration Department will boost liaison with the neighboring city of Shenzhen counterparts to ensure smooth and orderly passenger flow. If necessary, Lo Wu will implement the contra-flow scheme to ease congestion.

A joint command center will be set up at Lo Wu to oversee traffic conditions and contingency measures have been drawn up.