Enhanced Transport Services Announced for Chinese New Year Golden Week Travel between Hong Kong and Mainland

Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early during Chinese New Year Golden Week of Mainland

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following latest information today (February 13) on the traffic and public transport arrangements during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland (February 15 to 23):

During the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting land-based boundary control points (BCPs), the Transport Department (TD) appealed to cross-boundary travellers to use public transport services travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.

Enhancing services for travel convenience

The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland to accommodate the diverse travelling needs of passengers, including:

• The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line (ERL) between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times during the above period. Most local railway lines will operate overnight on February 16 (Monday, Lunar New Year's Eve), excluding cross-boundary journeys on the ERL between Sheung Shui and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations, the Airport Express and the Disneyland Resort Line. Services on the relevant railway lines will be strengthened after the Night Parade on February 17 (Lunar New Year's Day) and the Fireworks Display on February 18 (second day of Lunar New Year) for the convenience of residents and visitors;

• Increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to an average of about one minute during peak hours, if needed;

• Increasing the frequency of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about two minutes during peak hours, if needed;

• Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services;

• The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand; and

• In the early hours from February 17 (Tuesday, Lunar New Year's Day) to February 19 (Thursday, third day of Lunar New Year), after the service hours of the ERL trains to Lo Wu Station, a special bus service on KMB Route No. N73 (MTR Sheung Shui Station to San Tin) will be provided to carry passengers to interchange to the Yellow Bus for their journey to the Mainland via the Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port, which operates round the clock.

Travel during non-peak hours

It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Passengers are advised to travel during non-peak hours, maintain order while queuing and heed advice from on-site police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.

Of note, motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau and the Shenzhen Bay Ports during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site police.

Information dissemination

For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.

The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and HKeMobility.

The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.

The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year Golden Week of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.

Photo source: reference image

Speech by DCS at Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 High Table Banquet

Following is the speech by theDeputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 High Table Banquettonight (October 27):

Your Excellency Mr Jeremi(Former President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Vuk Jeremi),President Priscilla Leung (Member of the Legislative Council and Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship, Professor Priscilla Leung), Vice Chairman Augustine Wong (Founding Vice Chairmen of the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening! Building on the resounding success of the first Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit in 2024, this year's Summit once again brings together university leaders and senior management from different countries and regions, as well as outstanding young entrepreneurs and student representatives. Wherever you are from, I extend to you Hong Kong’s very warm welcome. Your very presence encapsulates what this Summit is about: connection and collaboration.

Earlier today, the discussion sessions have provided much food for thought for exploring knowledge networks, public-private education ecosystems, policy governance, and the vital role of higher education in developing industry-ready talent for a globalised society. Tomorrow, the dialogue will branch out into the big data challenge and examine cross-sector collaboration, demographic shifts, AI ethics and Hong Kong's strategic legal and youth opportunities. These are not separate conversations but different dimensions of a shared agenda: to bring the Government, industry, academia, research and investment together in cross-sector and cross-border co-operation.

The Northern Metropolis of Hong Kong, and the university town at its heart, provides a concrete foundation to put that co-operation into practice. As set out in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address, both announced last month, the Northern Metropolis will be developed with the objective of providing an ideal environment for university towns, innovation and technology, industry, and living, work and travel. Serving as a base and key strategic vehicle for driving high-quality post-secondary education development, it will integrate technological and industry innovation, while attracting international high-calibre talent. The Northern Metropolis will also function as a main platform for Hong Kong to deeply engage in and benefit from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which, if taken as a single economic entity with a combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of US$2 trillion by 2024-25, would have ranked the 16th largest economy, closely after Australia and Spain and before the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.

At the heart of the Northern Metropolis are three university towns in the San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu and Ta Kwu Ling areas, spreading across an area of over 1000 hectares. These university towns, each with its own focus, will integrate talent cultivation, scientific research, transformation of outcomes and industry development. We will expedite the planning and development of the university towns for the first batch of institutions to move in by 2027-2028.

In addition to accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, the National 15th Five-Year Plan has also entrusted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the mission of building an international hub for high-calibre talent. To this end, we will establish the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, and encourage post-secondary institutions to actively organise more exchange activities. We will also continue to make good use of various measures, such as a Funding Scheme for Chinese Mainland and Global Engagement and Student Learning Experience, which has an additional injection of HK$100 million starting from the 2026-27 academic year, to broaden the horizons of Hong Kong students, enhance cross-cultural exchanges on campus, and foster a diverse and inclusive international learning environment.

Dear leaders and guests, what I have said are more than policies, we are opening doors and our arms. Let us work together to build connections that endure beyond this Summit, and transform shared ideas into mutual values.

I wish the Summit great success and you all a chilled evening and a fruitful, thought-provoking time at the Summit. Thank you very much.

Source: AI-found images