Lok Ma Chau checkpoint could be overwhelmed

The Lok Ma Chau border checkpoint could become overcrowded after midnight during the Lunar New Year holidays, the commissioner for transport warned yesterday.

Robert Footman said the Transport Department will suspend feeder transport services to San Tin transport interchange if there are too many passengers. Mr Footman said he expected a sharp increase in the number of passengers crossing the border via the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint during the festive season.

'Some travellers who fail to cross the Lowu checkpoint before midnight during the Lunar New Year may switch to Lok Ma Chau,' he said.

A total of 7,169 travellers were cleared at Lok Ma Chau between midnight on Wednesday and 6.30am yesterday.

This compared with 4,633 passengers during the same period on Monday when round-the-clock opening of Lok Ma Chau crossing was introduced.

The Immigration Department said 212,458 people crossed the border into Lowu yesterday, while 86,264 people entered Hong Kong.