An estimated 7.3 million people will travel through Hong Kong checkpoints during the National Day and Chung Yeung (or Double Ninth Festival, 9th day of the 9th lunar month) holidays, up 19 percent on the same period last year, Simon Peh, assistant director of Hong Kong government's Immigration Department said on Monday.

The department expects 5.6 million travelers to pass through land boundary checkpoints, up 19 percent from the same period last year. About 910,000 will pass through Hong Kong International Airport, up 13 percent, while 820,000 will use the China and the Macao Ferry Terminals, up 24 percent.

The peak period for cross-boundary traffic will be Sept. 30 to Oct. 11. About 3.6 million passengers (300,000 daily) will travel via Lo Wu control point, representing 65 percent of total estimated cross-boundary passenger traffic, up 16.5 percent. Lok Ma Chau will see 1.6 million passengers (134,000 daily), up 24 percent.

Departing passengers using land boundary checkpoints will peak at 280,000 on Sept. 30, with peak arrivals set for Oct. 2 with 330,000. The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 530,000 on Oct.1.

About 1.9 million passengers use land boundary checkpoints from Oct. 8 to 11. The department said it will deploy 250 more officers to cope with demand.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2005)