The Transport Bureau (DSAT) yesterday said that during the Easter Holiday at the weekend, the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus between Hong Kong and Macau (also known as “Golden Bus”) will be increased, as will the frequency of the routes plied by the two local public bus companies, Transmac and TCM, to cope with the expected heavy travel demand of residents and tourists during the holiday, according to the bureau’s statement yesterday.
Easter is the remembrance of the crucification and death on Friday, and resurrection on Sunday, of Jesus Christ. The holiday runs from Good Friday to Easter Monday and gives many people a four-day weekend. Unlike in Macau and Hong Kong, Easter is not a public holiday in the Chinese mainland and in Taiwan.
The bureau, together with the Public Security Police (PSP), two local bus operators and representatives from the six gaming concessionaires, conducted a table-top exercise last month in order to pre-empt any contingencies that might arise at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) border checkpoint during the Easter holiday.
Last month’s exercise, the statement noted, included the simulation of a sudden increase in the number of inbound passengers at the HZMB border checkpoint, confusion and disputes between passengers during the queuing process, smoke and fire in the pick-up and drop-off areas, traffic accidents and serious traffic congestion, as well as the breakdown of the immigration system at the HZMB checkpoints.
The statement said the bureau has coordinated arrangements with Macau’s six gaming companies to provide additional services by adding back-up buses based on the actual situation during the Easter holiday, while using the passenger volume during the Chinese New Year period as the operational standard.
The statement noted that the bureau has instructed Transmac and TCM to improve the environment in the waiting areas to maintain passengers’ orderly queues waiting for buses.
In addition, due to the increase in pedestrian traffic in Rua de Cunha in Taipa, bus routes 22, 30, 33 and 34 will be temporarily rerouted over the weekend, and diverted to Avenida Olímpica after crossing Rotunda Ouvidor Arriaga, but will continue to run on their respective original routes.
This undated photo provided by the DSAT shows officials and gaming sector representatives attending last month’s table-top exercise in the run-up to this weekend’s Easter holiday.
