Li Hao
AN estimated 4.82 million people will cross the Hong Kong-Shenzhen border during the forthcoming National Day holidays from Wednesday to Oct. 8, frontier officials said Saturday.
The Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection said in a news release that the figure, an average of 530,000 moving daily across the border, represents a 13.7 percent increase over the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Shenzhen residents with multi-entry permits could apply at any checkpoint for the use of the self-service border-crossing system, saving time when going through customs. Travelers taller than 1.4 meters are eligible to apply for the use of the e-channel. Until recently, the self-service e-channel only served Hong Kong and Macao residents.
The peak day is expected to fall on Oct. 1, which will see 630,000 tourists cross the border.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Transport Department had approved a daily quota increase of shuttle buses crossing the border at Huanggang, Shenzhen Bay, Wenjindu and Shatoujiao checkpoints, said the station.
During the holidays, all checkpoints are required to keep tourists well informed about the border-crossing situation through media including TV and newspapers.
The General Stations reminded all potential border-crossing tourists to make sure of the validity of their travel permits before departure.
Tourists can dial the customs hotline on 8449-6666 for border-crossing information.
Daily overcapacity has been seen at Luohu, Huanggang and Shenzhen Bay checkpoints, so the General Station has advised tourists to use Futian Checkpoint, which has seen an average daily number of 80,000 tourists far below its planned daily capacity of 250,000 people.