Special boundary-crossing arrangements during Lunar New Year holidays and associated public transport service arrangements
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The Transport Department (TD) today (February 8) reminded the public that the operating hours of the passenger clearance service of individual boundary control points (BCPs) will be extended during the Lunar New Year holidays, and that the following associated special traffic and transportation arrangements will be implemented.
(1) Lo Wu Control Point
On Lunar New Year Eve (February 9) and the second day of the Lunar New Year (February 11), the operating hours of the passenger clearance service of the Lo Wu Control Point will be extended to 2am on the following days (i.e. February 10 and 12). The service hours of the MTR East Rail Line will be extended correspondingly. The last train heading for Lo Wu Station will depart from Admiralty Station at 0.56am while the last train heading for Admiralty Station will depart from Lo Wu Station at 2.30am. On the evening of the second day of Lunar New Year (February 11), since other MTR lines will maintain normal operating hours, passengers using the East Rail Line during the extended service hours are advised to plan their journey in advance. They may contact the relevant public transport operators, if needed.
The Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point will be closed at 10.30pm on both days (February 9 and 11) as usual. The service hours of the East Rail Line train service to and from Lok Ma Chau Station will not be extended.
(2) Shenzhen Bay Port
Shenzhen Bay Port will implement a 24-hour passenger clearance service from 6.30am on Lunar New Year Eve (February 9) to midnight of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (February 14). In connection with this arrangement, New Lantao Bus and Citybus will operate special overnight route Nos. NB2 (Yuen Long/Tin Shui Wai-Shenzhen Bay Port) (circular route) and NB3 (Tuen Mun-Shenzhen Bay Port) respectively.
Cross-boundary coach operators will also operate additional overnight cross-boundary coach services between urban areas (including Prince Edward, Yau Ma Tei and Wan Chai) and the Shenzhen Bay Port during small hours (i.e. from midnight to 6.30am) from first day of the Lunar New Year (February 10) to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (February 14).
(3) Lok Ma Chau Control Point
During the Lunar New Year holiday, the Lok Ma Chau Control Point will maintain a 24-hour operation. The short-haul cross-boundary coach routes plying between urban areas (including Prince Edward, Jordan, Wan Chai and Kwun Tong) and Huanggang Port, as well as the Yellow Bus plying between Lok Ma Chau (San Tin) Public Transport Interchange and Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port will enhance services.
In connection with Lunar New Year celebration events, the terminus of the short-haul cross-boundary coach route plying between Jordan and Huanggang Port at the Austin Road Cross Boundary Coach Terminus will temporarily be relocated to the coach pick-up and drop-off area at Wui Man Road outside Hong Kong West Kowloon Station on the first day of the Lunar New Year (February 10) and the second day of the Lunar New Year (February 11) from 8pm to midnight. On the other hand, the terminus of the short-haul cross-boundary coach route plying between Wan Chai and Huanggang Port at Exhibition Station Public Transport Interchange will temporarily be relocated to Hennessy Road (Westbound) near Southorn Centre from 4.30pm on the second day of Lunar New Year (February 11) until the reopening of the roads.
Subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic measures may be implemented in the vicinity of San Tin Interchange, San Sham Road and the Lok Ma Chau Control Point to allowing smooth access of public transport vehicles including cross-boundary coaches, Yellow Buses, Green Minibuses and taxis to the Lok Ma Chau Control Point.
On the other hand, only those cross-boundary private cars (i.e. private cars with dual license plates of the Mainland and Hong Kong) issued with Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port Closed Road Permits (i.e. Permits) will be allowed to use the Lok Ma Chau Control Point between midnight and 6.30am daily from the first day of the Lunar New Year (February 10) to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (February 14). Other cross-boundary private cars holding Permits for Shenzhen Bay, Man Kam To and Sha Tau Kok Ports must use the Shenzhen Bay Port or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (Hong Kong Port) instead during these periods. Cross-boundary private cars issued with Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port Closed Road Permits may also use the Shenzhen Bay Port or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (Hong Kong Port). The TD will inform relevant cross-boundary private car permit holders of the arrangement via SMS.
The TD anticipates that a large amount of passengers will use public transport services to cross the boundary via various land-based Boundary Control Points during the Lunar New Year Eve and Lunar New Year holiday, and that the waiting time for cross-boundary public transport services may be longer than usual. Passengers waiting for public transport services are advised to observe order and follow the advice of the Police and staff of the public transport operators on-site. Cross-boundary coach passengers are also advised to plan their journeys ahead and reserve tickets in advance.
A spokesman for the TD specially reminded the public that “on the night of the second day of the Lunar New Year (February 11), only the service of the MTR East Rail Line plying between Admiralty and Lo Wu will be extended, while other MTR lines and the connecting public transport services will maintain their normal operating hours. Members of the public are advised to pay attention to the details of the public transport services concerned, and plan their journeys ahead. They may contact the relevant public transport operators if needed.
“The Government encourages visitors to carefully plan their itinerary, which includes considering an overnight stay in Hong Kong and avoiding departure via land boundary control points in the small hours, to enjoy a more diversified travel experience in Hong Kong.”
Details of the special boundary-crossing arrangements and associated public transport services during the Lunar New Year holidays are available at the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/land_based_cross_boundary_transport/sbca2024/index.html).