The Security Bureau said that outbound passenger flow at Huanggang Port has increased significantly since around 11am this morning, prompting the Immigration Department (ImmD) to immediately open all clearance channels and counters at the departure hall on L5 to expedite passenger flow.

Around 19,000 passengers departed for the Mainland via Huanggang Port between noon and 2pm, representing an increase of 835% compared with the same period previously at the Huanggang Port/Lok Ma Chau Control Point.

During the peak hour between 1pm and 2pm, as many as 9,728 outbound passenger trips were recorded within one hour, representing an increase of 899% compared with the same period in the past at the Huanggang Port/Lok Ma Chau Control Point.

Faced with this sudden surge in passengers, authorities activated various contingency plans promptly and overall operations remained generally smooth.

The ImmD implemented crowd diversion and control measures on L2 and L5 in collaboration with Police.

For passengers entering Huanggang Port during peak hours, the waiting time for crowd diversion arrangements on L2 was about 30 to 45 minutes, while the waiting time inside the departure hall on L5 was maintained within 30 minutes.

The ImmD has disseminated the latest waiting time information via the “Easy Boundary” platform, and advised members of the public and travellers to plan their journeys in advance and consider using other boundary control points for departure.

The outbound peak gradually subsided from around 2pm. Crowd diversion and control measures on L2 were lifted at 2.10pm, and the waiting time at the departure hall on L5 had dropped to under 15 minutes by 2.40pm.