An estimated 7.54 million people will travel in and out of Hong Kong through land, sea and air checkpoints during the coming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day festive period, the Immigration Department of Hong Kong government estimated Friday.

The department said this was an increase of 19.6 percent over the same period last year. There will be about 5.8 million travelers passing through the land boundary checkpoints, an increase of 21.3 percent over the same period last year.

As estimated, 560,000 mainland visitors will enter Hong Kong, an increase of 17 percent over the same period last year. Of the 560,000 mainland visitors, 50,000 will travel in groups and 300,000 on individual basis.

A department spokesman said the peak period of cross-boundary traffic during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day festive period would fall between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10.

It is estimated that about 3.64 million passengers (an average of 260,000 daily) will use the Lo Wu checkpoint. It represents 60 percent of total estimated cross-boundary passenger traffic and an increase of 6.4 percent over the corresponding period last year, the spokesman said.

The number of departing passengers at Lo Wu may reach a peak of 170,000 on Sept. 28, while the peak of arrivals will be on Oct. 3, with 190,000 people returning to Hong Kong. The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 290,000 on Oct. 1 (National Day).

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2004)