The Public Security Police (PSP) forecast yesterday that the number of Macau border checkpoint entries and exits will reach between 6.0 million and 6.21 million during the Chinese mainland’s upcoming 9-day Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday period.
The mainland’s 9-day holiday, officially known in the Chinese mainland as the Spring Festival, will take place between Sunday and February 23, the seventh day of the Year of the Horse, which begins on Tuesday, February 17.
Lei Tak Fai, chief of the Public Security Police’s (PSP) Public Relations Division, told reporters during yesterday’s press conference they estimated Macau to exceed, on average, 670,000 entries and exits a day at its border checkpoints during the holiday.
Macau’s immigration services are run by the Public Security Police (PSP).
Lei predicted the third day of the holiday to be the busiest, with over 780,000 entries and exits.
Macau’s border checkpoint entries and exits comprise local residents, visitors, non-resident workers (NRWs), non-local students and other non-locals living in Macau such as diplomats and officials from the Chinese mainland posted to Macau.
Lei made the remarks during a press conference held at the Barrier Gate checkpoint yesterday morning about the local government’s raft of CNY arrangements and measures to handle the huge number of expected entries and exits.
In order to cope with the major surge in entries and exists, Lei noted that his division has formulated targeted operational plans focusing on public security, border control, and traffic management, adding that all major checkpoints have contingency crowd control measures, including the deployment of admin staff to frontline duties at CNY event locations and popular tourist spots, as well as the opening of additional immigration counters to enhance clearance efficiency.
Un Kit Ling, a senior official from the Transport Bureau’s (DSAT) Transport Management Division, urged taxi drivers to support diversified payment methods such as e-payments. She noted that promotional efforts are still underway. Visitors can access taxi fare information via the DSAT website or app, she underlined.
The authorities encourage visitors to report cabbies’ suspected violations by providing the date, hour, location and licence plate number to law enforcement agencies for follow-up action.
Un added that under the cross-departmental coordination mechanism, multiple entities have pre-arranged temporary public transport adjustments and emergency plans.
Enhanced traffic diversion measures will be implemented in high-traffic areas during the holiday period.
Public bus service details are available on the websites http://www.tcm.com.mo and http://www.transmac.com.mo.
Crowds of visitors and residents queue at immigration counters at the Barrier Gate checkpoint yesterday. – Photo: Ida Cheong
Lei Tak Fai (centre), acting head of the Public Security Police’s (PSP) Public Relations Division; Un Kit Ling (first from left), a senior official from Transport Bureau (DSAT) Transport Management Division; and other attendees look on during yesterday’s press conference about the government’s Chinese New Year (CNY) raft of arrangements and measures , at the Barrier Gate checkpoint. – Photo: Ida Cheong
