Hong Kong authorities will extend the operating hours of Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay checkpoints to manage cross-border passenger flow after the New Year's countdown. The city has cancelled its annual fireworks show due to the late November Wang Fuk Court fire tragedy, but the Hong Kong Tourism Board will hold a concert and light show in Central's Chater Road pedestrian zone.
Hong Kong authorities will extend the operating hours of Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay checkpoints while stepping up public transport to manage cross-border passenger flow after the New Year countdown next week. Under special holiday arrangements, the Lo Wu checkpoint will remain open from New Year’s Eve until 2am the next day, while passenger and vehicle checkpoints at Shenzhen Bay will operate overnight, according to a government spokesman.
“The government will closely monitor the situation and take contingency actions promptly where necessary and deploy manpower flexibly to ensure orderly operations of the boundary control points,” the spokesman said on Thursday.
While the city cancelled its annual countdown fireworks show this year in light of the Wang Fuk Court fire tragedy in late November, the Hong Kong Tourism Board will still hold a 40-minute concert and light show at the Chater Road pedestrian zone in Central on December 31. Soft rock duo Air Supply will be headlining the show, along with performances by Cantopop acts Jay Fung and Cloud Wan.
In the late hours of December 31, two special overnight bus routes NB2 and NB3 will run to and from the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun. Bus service N73 will also take passengers from Sheung Shui MTR station to the Lok Ma Chau public transport interchange after Lo Wu checkpoint closes for passengers to transfer onto a bus to Shenzhen.
These arrangements aim to facilitate smooth travel during the festivities and prevent congestion. The government has pledged to adjust deployments based on real-time needs.
