Diversion effect: Traffic at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok has fallen off after Shenzhen Bay Port's opening.

Traffic at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok fell up to 11.2% after the opening of Shenzhen Bay Port, indicating the new cross-boundary link's diversion effect, Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng says.

She told lawmakers today the average daily traffic at Shenzhen Bay Port is around 4,400 trips, lower than the original estimate of 29,800 trips. However, last December's figures showed the vehicular flow at Lok Ma Chau, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok fell 9.4%, 11.2% and 4.3% over July when the new checkpoint was commissioned. The average daily passenger flow at the new cross-boundary link is 28,400, which is close to the original estimate.

Ms Cheng said Shenzhen is preparing to build a temporary office building in the Shenzhen port area to allow freight companies to set up offices that can provide support for customs declarations and goods clearance.

Traffic-management measures have also been put in place to attract cross-boundary vehicles to use the new check point.

She said the Guangdong government will expedite the construction works of the Guangshen Yanjiang Expressway with a view to commissioning the entire expressway by the end of 2010.

To encourage different types of cross-boundary vehicles to use Shenzhen Bay Port, Ms Cheng said both Hong Kong and Guangdong governments are exploring the idea of extending the trial to allow cross-boundary private cars to use the new checkpoint.