A number of Hong Kong travel agencies said they have arranged more overseas-bounded touring parties in the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Radio Television Hong Kong reported Wednesday that 250 touring parties from one travel agency would set out Wednesday, a record number and 15 percent higher over the previous Lunar New Year day.

Affected by the strong-earthquake led tsunami in southern and southeast Asian countries at the end of last year, many Hong Kong citizens choose the Chinese mainland, Republic of Korea and Japan as their travel destinations during the Lunar New Year holidays starting from Wednesday.

Tours to European countries, the United States, Australia and New Zealand are also welcomed by Hong Kong citizens.

Another travel agency arranged 100 touring parties to set out Wednesday, 30 percent higher than the first day of the previous new year. The tour to Hokkaido of Japan is especially welcomed for its snow scenes that could not be expected to observe in Hong Kong.

Though the tour charges over HK$10,000 (US$1,282) fro each, the quotas for the touring parties to the Japanese city had already been booked up long before the starting of the Lunar New Year.

To meet the needs of travelers in and out Hong Kong, Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department has granted the adding of flights on 338 routes. Only for Wednesday, 762 flights are expected to land and set off at Hong Kong International Airport Wednesday, a record daily handling number.

Over 310,000 departed Hong Kong for overseas for spending Lunar New Year Tuesday, and 174,000 of them headed for the Chinese mainland via Lo Wu cross-boundary check point.

The Immigration Department opened additional 80 counters at the various check points to help easy passing of the check points.
 
(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2005)