Hong Kong Immigration Department estimates about 8.62 million people will pass through land, sea and air control points in Hong Kong over the coming Lunar New Year holiday, which is up about 8 percent on that of 2008.

The department forecast that the busiest period would fall between Jan. 22 and Feb. 2 with about 3.2 million passengers crossing the Lo Wu control point between Hong Kong and Shenzhen city in the south of Guangdong Province. That means a daily average of 266,000 people will cross the point.

Incoming passengers at Lo Wu might reach a peak of 188,000 on Jan. 28, while departures will peak on Jan. 24 with 168,000 people leaving.

Passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau check point would also be heavy, with a forecast of about 1.36 million passengers, or a daily average of 113,000. The peak for arrivals was expected to beon Jan. 28, while the departure peak would be on Jan. 24, the department said.

To cope with the traffic, the department had arranged extra officers to reinforce the boundary checkpoints. A joint command center would also be established at Lo Wu.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)