Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang said Thursday existing arrangements are sufficient to handle the increase of visitors to Hong Kong.

After inspecting the measures taken to facilitate travelers at the four cross-boundary checkpoints linking Hong Kong with the Chinese mainland, Tsang noted that government facilities and measures have been enhanced to handle the upsurge of Chinese mainland visitors expected during the National Day holiday period, a one-week period which starts on Oct. 1.

On manpower deployment at checkpoints, Tsang said the government is making final assessments on the situation. If necessary, it will consider enhancing manpower deployment.

On security measures, Tsang admitted the increase in mainland visitors might give rise to certain security problems. However, Police and the Immigration and Customs and Excise Departments have stepped up their actions against illegal workers and other related offenses.

In August, 55 percent of individual mainland visitors entered Hong Kong through land checkpoints while 30-40 percent came by sea.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2003)