From Dec. 21 to Jan. 2, some 7.71 million people traveled through different checkpoints, almost 26 percent higher than the expected figure of 6.12 million for the festive period, Hong Kong's Immigration Department said Tuesday.

The department recorded a total of 356,589 arrivals at different checkpoints on Monday. Among them, 48.6 percent entered the city through Lo Wu, 23.4 percent through Lok Ma Chau, 13.2 percent at the airport and 10 percent at the Macao and China Ferry Terminals.

Monday also saw the departure of 245,022 people from the city 44.2 percent through Lo Wu, 21.5 percent through Lok Ma Chau, 17.8 percent at the airport and 12.1 percent at the Macao and China Ferry Terminals.

According to the authority, from Dec. 21 to Jan. 2, a total of 3.86 million people entered Hong Kong while about 3.85 million people set off.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2006)