Travellers and cross-boundary drivers will be surveyed from November 15 to 28.

The study will garner data on the characteristics of cross-boundary trips and the socio-economic profiles and travel behaviour of trip-makers, which will include local residents, foreign and Mainland visitors.

The Planning Department has hired ACNielsen (China) to conduct the survey, and the results will be available by mid-next year.

By examining the commuting characteristics and loading conditions of different types of cross-boundary vehicles, the Government can gauge with greater accuracy traffic movement patterns.

Our eight immigration control points are HK International Airport, Lo Wu Terminus, Hung Hom Station, the China and Macau Ferry Terminals, and the Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Control Points.

About 55,000 respondents, including 11,000 drivers, will be surveyed at random. They will be invited to complete a five-minute questionnaire.

Passengers and drivers are urged to co-operate with staff conducting the study. All information provided will be kept strictly confidential.

It will be the third survey of cross-boundary travel by the Government. The previous two were conducted in 1999 and 2001.