The Immigration Department expects about 3.4 million people to cross the land boundary during the National Day and Chung Yeung festive period, up 34.3% over last year.

The department said the peak period of cross-boundary traffic will fall between September 30 and October 7.

About 2.4 million people, a daily average of 302,000, are expected to cross via the Lo Wu checkpoint, representing 70% of the total cross-boundary passenger traffic and an increase of 17.1% over last year.

During the period, the number of departing passengers at Lo Wu may reach a peak of 230,000 on October 4, while the peak for arrivals will be on October 5 with 220,000 people returning to Hong Kong.

The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 370,000 on October 4.

Passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau will also be very heavy with a forecast of 719,000 passengers - a daily average of 90,000.

Peak departures are expected on October 4, with about 54,000 people heading for Shenzhen. The arrival peak will be on October 5, with about 56,000 people returning to Hong Kong.

With the relaxation of immigration policy on Mainland group tour visitors last year, and the recent introduction of the Mainland Individual Visit Scheme, the department expects the number of Mainland visitors coming on group tours and on an individual basis will increase considerably.

About 60,000 to 80,000 Mainland individual visitors will enter Hong Kong during the Golden Week holiday, while about 19,000 Mainland group visitors will arrive between October 1 and October 4. Of them, the majority will come via Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau.

Measures implemented to handle the load

To cope with traffic demand, the department has arranged 266 officers to reinforce the land boundary checkpoints. Some 100 staff will be deployed at Lo Wu, 146 at Lok Ma Chau, eight at Man Kam To, seven at Sha Tau Kok and five at Hung Hom.

The Immigration Department and Shenzhen authorities will strengthen co-operation and liaison to ensure smooth and orderly movement across the boundary.

If need be, Lo Wu will also implement the Contra-Flow Scheme to relieve congestion.

To relieve congestion, the department called for individual Mainland visitors to avoid arriving at Lo Wu in the morning from October 1 to October 4.