The Public Security Police (PSP) announced yesterday that they expect the city to record between 630,000 to 670,000 daily entries and exits at its border checkpoints during the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday period, or 3 percent more than last year.
The mainland’s 8-day holiday, known as the Spring Festival Golden Week, will take place from next Tuesday, to February 4. The Year of the Snake begins on Wednesday, January 29.
Lei Tak Fai, who heads the Public Security Police’s (PSP) Public Relations Division, made the remarks during a press briefing at the Barrier Gate checkpoint where he and officials from several other public entities briefed reporters about the local government’s ongoing preparations for tackling the expected high number of visitors during the CNY holiday period.
The entry and exit figures recorded regularly by the Public Security Police, who run the city’s immigration service, comprise local residents, visitors, non-resident workers (NRWs) and non-local students enrolled in Macau.
Lei said that the police are predicting that Macau will record 5.04 to 5.36 million entries and exits at its checkpoints over the 8-day holiday period, and that the police expect the fourth and fifth day of the Chinese New Year, i.e., February 1 and 2, to see the peak of entries and exits.
The police will arrange for back-up officers to provide support to frontline immigration officers during the CNY holiday period, Lei said, adding that the police will increase patrols at festival event locations and popular tourist spots, including the temporary pedestrianisation of “Old Taipa” district.
Meanwhile, U Chin Keong, a senior officer from the Macau Customs Service, said during yesterday’s press briefing that the peak traffic flow for vehicles exiting Macau via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) was expected for the Lunar New Year’s Eve, i.e., next Tuesday, while the peak for vehicles entering Macau was expected for next Thursday. The expected peak hourly traffic flow is around 500 vehicles.
According to Hong Kong media reports, vehicles with seven seats or less will be exempt from paying tolls on the HZMB during the 8-day holiday period.
Liz Lam Tong Hou from the public relations division of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said that as of January 16, the hotel industry had received hotel reservations close to 80 percent of capacity, with average room rates ranging from around 1,000 to 2,000 patacas.
Lei Tak Fai, who heads the Public Security Police’s (PSP) Public Relations Division, speaks during yesterday’s press briefing at the Barrier Gate checkpoint. – Photos: William Chan
