Hong Kong's Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said Monday he has discussed with the Immigration Department possible ways to alleviate the pressure caused by the upsurge of Chinese mainland tourists in recent days.

Speaking on the increase of mainland tourists, Lee admitted that the upsurge will create certain pressures on cross-boundary checkpoints.

However, he noted that the department has already deployed 94 additional staff to alleviate the increased checkpoint workload, and hi-tech equipment will be used to enhance passenger-handling capacity.

The government will consider deploying clerical staff from other departments to help immigration officers handle the rush during the coming National Day holiday, a one-week holiday which starts on Oct. 1, he added.

Moreover, he noted that the tourism industry has negotiated with mainland authorities to divert some of the tourists to less-congested checkpoints.

According to Lee, the introduction of hi-tech equipment, streamlining of procedures, launching of smart ID cards and the introduction of automatic immigration clearance next year are some of the long-term measures taken to alleviate increasing pressure on checkpoints.
 
(People's Daily August 19, 2003)