An estimated 6.12 million people will cross checkpoints to and from the Chinese mainland during the coming Christmas and New Year festive period, up 12.2 percent over the same period last year, Hong Kong Immigration Department said on Thursday.

The peak for cross-boundary traffic will fall between Dec. 22 and Jan. 3, the department estimated.

The department's Border Division Commander Corrado Chow said about 3.87 million passengers, an average of 298,000 daily, will use the Lo Wu checkpoint. The figure represents 63 percent of total estimated cross-boundary passenger traffic.

The number of departing passengers at Lo Wu, largest land checkpoint of Hong Kong, may reach a peak of 200,000 on Dec. 24, while the peak of arrivals will be on Dec. 27, with 205,000 people returning to Hong Kong. The highest daily traffic is expected to reach 340,000 on Dec. 24.

The department has arranged for 124 extra officers to be posted at the airport, sea and land boundary checkpoints during the holiday period to cope with the situation.

Hong Kong residents aged 11 or above holding permanent smart identity cards may make use of the 76 e-channels at Hung Hom, Lo Wu, China Ferry Terminal and Macao Ferry Terminal checkpoints.

Meanwhile, the department will strengthen co-operation and liaison with its Shenzhen counterpart to ensure smooth operation. If necessary, the contra-flow scheme will be implemented at the LoWu checkpoint to ease congestion.

A joint command center will also be set up at the Lo Wu checkpoint to oversee traffic conditions. Contingency measures have also been drawn up to handle any untoward incidents.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2005)