About 4.77 million people are expected to pass through land, sea and air control points during the Easter festive period, up 7.6% on the same period last year.

The Immigration Department said 3.51 million of them will travel by land, up 6.6% on last year.

The peak period for passenger traffic during the holidays will be from April 12 to 18. About 2.17 million passengers will travel through the Lo Wu control point, a daily average of 310,000.

The number of departing passengers at Lo Wu is expected to peak at 260,000 on April 14, while for arrivals, the peak will be on Sunday with 205,000. Daily traffic is expected to reach a high of 375,000 on April 14.

The passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau control point will also be heavy with a forecast of about 1.11 million passengers, or 158,000 each day, up 16.9% on last year.

The number of departures is expected to peak on April 14 with about 99,000, while for arrivals, the peak will be on April 17 with 109,000. Daily traffic is expected to reach a high of 178,000 on April 16.

Reinforcements at control points

To cope with the extra demand, the department will deploy more staff to man land, sea and air control points during the holiday period. It will strengthen its co-operation with the Shenzhen authorities to ensure orderly movements across the boundary.

If necessary, the Lo Wu control point will implement the contra-flow scheme to relieve congestion.

A joint command centre has been set up at Lo Wu control point and contingency measures have been drawn up to handle any untoward incidents.

There are 191 e-channels in operation at control points to ensure smooth passenger flow. To encourage people to use the automated passenger clearance system, two "meeting places" have been set up at the Lo Wu control point.

They are in the immigration departure hall on the ground floor and at the KCRC new waiting concourse on the second floor.