Data released via VisaHQ’s mobility tracker show that Hong Kong’s border network processed 1.25 million passenger movements on 25 December—a single-day record since all pandemic restrictions ended in early 2024. Lo Wu rail checkpoint alone handled more than 280 000 travellers, while Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay each exceeded 150 000.
Arrivals reached 457 000, including 83 000 mainland visitors lured by tax-free luxury shopping and a favourable renminbi. Outbound departures hit 795 000 as residents capitalised on cheaper airfares via Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Late-night high-speed trains operating past midnight for the first time in three years contributed to throughput gains.
![Christmas Day shatters mobility record with 1.25 million border crossings]()
Against this backdrop, travellers who need to secure or renew China visas—or simply want advice on e-Channel eligibility—can turn to VisaHQ. The company’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers step-by-step application tools, courier pickup for passports, and real-time alerts on documentation changes, helping frequent cross-border passengers avoid the very bottlenecks now re-emerging at manual counters.
The milestone underscores the rapid normalisation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong travel corridor. For businesses, the record suggests that contingency staffing, inventory replenishment and last-mile logistics should be scheduled assuming million-plus daily crossings will now be common during holiday peaks. Immigration authorities said the facial-recognition “Quality e-Channel” system cleared 45 % of passengers, a sign that adoption of contactless processing is accelerating.
Looking forward, hospitality analysts expect similar numbers on 31 December when 380 000 people are forecast to gather on the harbourfront for New Year’s fireworks. Corporates with rotational expatriate workforces are therefore advised to pre-register employees for e-Channel use and to consider cross-border shuttle contracts to guarantee seat supply during the Lunar New Year surge.
Arrivals reached 457 000, including 83 000 mainland visitors lured by tax-free luxury shopping and a favourable renminbi. Outbound departures hit 795 000 as residents capitalised on cheaper airfares via Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Late-night high-speed trains operating past midnight for the first time in three years contributed to throughput gains.
Against this backdrop, travellers who need to secure or renew China visas—or simply want advice on e-Channel eligibility—can turn to VisaHQ. The company’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers step-by-step application tools, courier pickup for passports, and real-time alerts on documentation changes, helping frequent cross-border passengers avoid the very bottlenecks now re-emerging at manual counters.
The milestone underscores the rapid normalisation of the Guangdong-Hong Kong travel corridor. For businesses, the record suggests that contingency staffing, inventory replenishment and last-mile logistics should be scheduled assuming million-plus daily crossings will now be common during holiday peaks. Immigration authorities said the facial-recognition “Quality e-Channel” system cleared 45 % of passengers, a sign that adoption of contactless processing is accelerating.
Looking forward, hospitality analysts expect similar numbers on 31 December when 380 000 people are forecast to gather on the harbourfront for New Year’s fireworks. Corporates with rotational expatriate workforces are therefore advised to pre-register employees for e-Channel use and to consider cross-border shuttle contracts to guarantee seat supply during the Lunar New Year surge.
