The Government today announced special boundary-crossing and public transport service arrangements for New Year's Eve and the New Year holidays.

An interdepartmental working group on festive arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary, released information on the arrangements after a consensus was reached with relevant departments from Guangdong and Shenzhen.

Clearance services at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, which usually close at midnight, will operate overnight, providing round-the-clock services.

Passenger clearance services at the Lo Wu Control Point, which usually close at midnight, will be extended to 2am the next day. The operating hours of the MTR's East Rail Line will be extended, with the departure of the last East Rail Line train from Admiralty to Lo Wu scheduled for 12.56 am.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Port and the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang (LMC/HG) Port will operate round-the-clock as usual.

During the implementation of 24-hour clearance at the Shenzhen Bay Port, only cross-boundary private cars issued with Closed Road Permits for the LMC/HG Control Point will be allowed to cross the control point during the early hours of January 1.

Cross-boundary private cars issued with permits for the ports at LMC/HG, Shenzhen Bay, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok can use the Shenzhen Bay Port during the early hours.

The Government has also worked with cross-boundary coach service operators to arrange additional services, including cross-boundary coaches departing from stations in urban areas such as Wan Chai, Prince Edward, Yau Ma Tei and Jordan, as well as a shuttle bus running between the Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange and the LMC/HG Port (Yellow Bus), and the HZMB shuttle bus (Gold Bus).

To tie in with the round-the-clock passenger clearance arrangements at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on January 1, franchised bus operators will operate two special overnight bus routes, NB2 and NB3, to provide services to and from Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun during the overnight period.

In the case of travellers using the MTR's East Rail Line overnight services after the closure of the Lo Wu Control Point, they can also take a specially arranged bus service, route No. N73, from Sheung Shui MTR Station to Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange, and transfer to the Yellow Bus for their journey to Shenzhen.

The Government highlighted that the full support of and co-ordination by leaders and relevant departments in Guangdong and Shenzhen were crucial to implementing the special arrangements.

Relevant bureaus and departments in Hong Kong have formulated plans. They have minimised leave for frontline officers and redeployed additional staff from other boundary control points.

An Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by Police, the Immigration Department, Customs and other departments will monitor real-time situations at various control points.

The command centre will also maintain close liaison with Mainland port authorities and flexibly deploy manpower to ensure smooth operations at control points.

The Security Bureau will activate its Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre to closely monitor and co-ordinate public order at various control points, and will facilitate interdepartmental follow-up action where necessary to respond promptly to emergencies.

The Transport Department will implement special traffic and transport arrangements on New Year's Eve to facilitate attendance at the fireworks display in Victoria Harbour and other holiday celebration activities. The arrangements will include road closures on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon.