HONG KONG – The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Thursday that it expected 5.9 million passengers to pass through the territory's sea, land and air control points during the upcoming Labour Day holiday.

The department said in a statement that, after consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, it estimated that around 5.05 million passengers will go through land boundary control points from April 30 to May 5.

The ImmD said passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 203,000, 166,000 and 133,000 passengers, respectively

The number of travelers using land boundary control points will be relatively higher on May 1, with around 481,000 outbound passengers and 544,000 inbound travelers expected that day, the ImmD said.

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It said passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 203,000, 166,000 and 133,000 passengers, respectively.

To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the holidays, the department said it has minimized leave for frontline officers for the flexible deployment of extra clearance counters and kiosks. Additional security guards will also be deployed to provide crowd management support.

The ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corp Ltd will set up a joint command center at the Lo Wu Control Point to ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow.

About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points while the Contactless e-Channel service is now available at all control points.

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Eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile app to enter the e-Channel, and then verify their identity with facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance.

All control points have also introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong which provides greater travel convenience for travelers.

Fanny Yeung Shuk-fan, executive director of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, earlier said that the city is expected to welcome approximately 800,000 mainland visitors during the five-day holiday from May 1 to 5, up 30 percent year-on-year.