On 25 December, Hong Kong’s control points moved a combined 1.25 million passengers—the highest single-day figure since 2019, according to a 29 December VisaHQ briefing that dissects Immigration Department logs. Lo Wu rail station alone cleared more than 280 000 travellers, while Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and Shenzhen Bay each exceeded 150 000.
Arrivals (457 000) were boosted by 83 000 mainland visitors lured by a strong renminbi and extended high-speed-rail timetables. Departures (795 000) were dominated by residents heading north for shopping, entertainment and cheaper air connections. The West Kowloon high-speed rail station reported its busiest day since opening, aided by mobile app ticketing and additional late-night trains.
![Christmas Day shatters records with 1.25 million people crossing Hong Kong checkpoints in 24 hours]()
For travellers and corporate mobility managers navigating these record flows, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong platform (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can expedite visa applications, provide real-time entry-requirement updates and handle group submissions, ensuring that staff and families have the right documents well before peak-season crunches.
From a corporate-mobility lens, the numbers highlight the need for contingency buffers in assignment itineraries during public holidays. Companies are encouraged to pre-enrol staff in e-Channel, update insurance coverage for mainland side trips and consider off-peak travel to avoid productivity loss.
The record also strengthens the policy case for extending checkpoint operating hours on a permanent basis and accelerating the fourth-track expansion of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
Arrivals (457 000) were boosted by 83 000 mainland visitors lured by a strong renminbi and extended high-speed-rail timetables. Departures (795 000) were dominated by residents heading north for shopping, entertainment and cheaper air connections. The West Kowloon high-speed rail station reported its busiest day since opening, aided by mobile app ticketing and additional late-night trains.
For travellers and corporate mobility managers navigating these record flows, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong platform (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can expedite visa applications, provide real-time entry-requirement updates and handle group submissions, ensuring that staff and families have the right documents well before peak-season crunches.
From a corporate-mobility lens, the numbers highlight the need for contingency buffers in assignment itineraries during public holidays. Companies are encouraged to pre-enrol staff in e-Channel, update insurance coverage for mainland side trips and consider off-peak travel to avoid productivity loss.
The record also strengthens the policy case for extending checkpoint operating hours on a permanent basis and accelerating the fourth-track expansion of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link.
