Crossing guard: Secretary for Education Michael Suen chats with students during his visit to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Public Transport Interchanges.

Secretary for Education Michael Suen says the Education Bureau will monitor cross-boundary services and liaise with concerned departments to ensure smooth operations of new measures for cross-boundary students attending Hong Kong schools.

To cater for the learning needs of Hong Kong students residing in the Mainland and their safety in crossing the border daily, the Government has implemented special arrangements at the Man Kam To, Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay control points.

Last month, cross-boundary school coach services were started on a trial basis at some of the points. Starting from April 7, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line public transport interchanges have allowed a limited number of school coaches to enter to pick up cross-boundary students.

Visiting Man Kam To, Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay Control Points today, Mr Suen said he was glad to see the smooth implementation of traffic arrangements for the students.

Traffic flow

He said he understood the need to limit traffic flow at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line public transport interchange. Yet, after careful consideration and assessment of the environmental impact, school coaches have been allowed to enter the interchange on a limited scale.

Since April 7, special permits have been issued to the school coaches to run at designated hours to pick up cross-boundary students before and after school. Fourteen trips picking up over 600 students have been allowed for each period.

During his visit to the Lo Wu border, the secretary said Lo Wu Station Road is a country road and the only emergency-vehicle exit for the Lo Wu Control Point. Only cross-boundary students attending schools in the North District can be allowed access through the Lo Wu Station Road under special arrangement.

Right balance

Noting the existing traffic flow at Lo Wu Station Road has already exceeded its capacity and will affect its users, he said government departments worked together to resolve the situation.

The limited opening of the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line public transport interchange restricted area for the use of the cross-boundary students is a balance struck between the geographical constraints at the border and the need to ease congestion at Lo Wu Station Road.