TD urges public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early before and after Tuen Ng Festival holiday
The Transport Department (TD) today (June 17) said that the passenger and vehicle traffic at land-based boundary control points (BCPs) will significantly increase before and after the Tuen Ng Festival holiday, especially amid the inbound peak on Sunday (June 21) afternoon and evening, when waiting times for public transport (PT) services will be longer. Cross-boundary travellers are urged to plan their trips early and properly, allow sufficient travelling time and avoid travelling during peak hours as far as possible. They should heed the latest information broadcast at major stations and BCPs.
Enhancing services for travel convenience
The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services before and after the Tuen Ng Festival for the convenience of residents and visitors, including:
- The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times from June 18 to 21 based on passenger demand;
- The train service of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link between Hong Kong West Kowloon and designated Mainland stations will operate additional temporary train trips on June 19 and June 21 (see details at the 12306.cn website);
- The frequencies of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) will be increased to an average of about one minute and two minutes respectively during peak hours;
- The quotaof cross-boundary coaches will be increased to strengthen services; and
- The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased beyond the normal weekend level, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.
Travel during non-peak hours
It is anticipated that the waiting time for PT services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Travellers should avoid travelling during peak hours as far as possible. Passengers are advised to maintain order while queuing and heed the advice of 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.
HZMB users travelling to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting the HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic, and the traffic at Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads has become very busy during holiday peak periods. They should use PT services as far as possible, plan their trips early, allow sufficient travelling time and remain patient while waiting.
As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, before and after the Tuen Ng Festival to secure smooth access for PT 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
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 the 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 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 the 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 the HKeMobility. PTOs and relevant departments of BCPs will also disseminate the latest information to passengers through public announcement systems or other channels at major stations and BCPs.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and PT services across various districts, BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demand.
Source: AI-found images
