The Immigration Department estimates that around 6.44 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Easter and Ching Ming festive period from April 3 to 7.

In consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit & Entry Frontier Inspection and other Mainland authorities, the department also estimates that around 5.43 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points.

Releasing the information in a statement today, it said the number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be highest on April 3 and April 7, with around 712,000 passengers and 671,000 passengers anticipated on those days respectively.

The department also expects passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point to be heavy, with daily average forecasts of about 240,000, 220,000 and 184,000 passengers respectively.

To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic, the department has minimised leave for frontline officers to allow flexible deployment and operation of additional counters, temporary counters and channels.

To ensure smooth passenger traffic flows, the department, the Police Force, Customs and the MTR Corporation will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point.

The department will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit & Entry Frontier Inspection.

Residents and visitors can visit Easy Boundary, a one-stop information platform on immigration clearance launched by the Security Bureau, to obtain useful information. This includes average waiting times for passengers and private cars at land boundary control points, as well as for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge cross-boundary shuttle bus and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus.

To further enhance passenger clearance efficiency, 12 additional new e-channels, equipped with the “Face Easy e-Channel” function, were installed at the Hong Kong International Airport arrival hall today.

When using the function, eligible Hong Kong residents need only face the camera, instead of presenting any documents or a QR code. Upon successful identity verification via facial recognition, immigration clearance will be completed.