The minister expressed confidence in the ability of the MTR Corporation, the city’s rail operator, to provide overnight services after large-scale events, saying they only happened occasionally.

The MTR Corp told the Post it was committed to facilitating cross-border passenger travel and maintained close communication with government bureaus and stakeholders.

“We will actively cooperate with the relevant policy decisions,” it said.

Thousands of northbound mainland visitors were left stranded in the city on Monday after New Year’s Eve countdown celebrations. Many queued for cross-border buses and some spent the night at railway stations awaiting the first train to either Lo Wu or the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line border checkpoint stations.

In an effort to avoid transport chaos in the future, the government pledged to come up with a range of measures, including holding a high-level cross-departmental meeting ahead of all major events, working with mainland authorities to extend operating hours at checkpoints connected by railway services and increasing the number of 24-hour border crossings.

Asked whether the new measures would be implemented by the Lunar New Year holiday next month, Lam said cross-border arrangements were not solely determined by Hong Kong, but the administration would speed up discussions with the mainland.

He said the government was also open to extending the operating hours of the high-speed rail link, but discussions with mainland authorities would be needed as the move could affect the service hours of stations across the border.

Hong Kong officials ‘learn lesson’ after new year transport chaos at border

Lam added the city’s sole 24-hour checkpoint leading to Shenzhen faced immense pressure in the early hours of New Year’s Day as 26,000 tourists crossed the border from midnight to 6am.

He said 1,400 private cars, more than expected, used the checkpoint over a six-hour period, causing traffic congestion nearby.

The government would explore designating lanes for cross-border buses to improve arrangements, as well as adding temporary bus stops close to the venues of large-scale events in future, he added.

On the same radio programme, Kenneth Li Siu-ming, secretary general of the China Hong Kong and Macau Boundary Crossing Bus Association, said he hoped 24-hour border clearance could be extended to the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint, which could only be reached by bus.

“It will be beneficial for travellers as it would allow them to reach the western side of Shenzhen conveniently, while those living on the eastern side could choose the Huanggang checkpoint,” he said.

Hong Kong security chief to review packed border crossings after festive fireworks

He added that the extended hours could help reduce the travel time, as it currently took about an hour to commute from one side of Shenzhen to the other.

Li said he hoped the operating hours for cross-border land checkpoints could be extended for the coming Lunar New Year holiday, which starts on February 10.

The city government should notify the sector two to three days in advance about future transport arrangements after major events so bus companies could ensure there were enough workers and vehicles, he added.

Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, told the radio show that extending operating hours at cross-border land checkpoints on Lunar New Year’s Eve and the following two days could benefit both travellers and locals.

Chui added that Hong Kong had forged closer ties with nearby mainland cities since the border reopened after the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to more people opting for one-day cross-border trips. He urged the government to adapt to this new style of travelling.

Starry Lee Wai-king, Hong Kong’s sole delegate to the nation’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, earlier expressed confidence that the city would be able to extend the opening hours of more control points for the Lunar New Year holiday.