China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) expects to process an average 2.1 million cross-border passenger movements per day during the 1–3 January holiday, the agency said in a briefing picked up by VisaHQ on 2 January. Although the figure covers the entire country, the epicentre will be the southern Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Gongbei Port (Macau) could exceed 400,000 daily crossings, while Shenzhen’s Luohu and Futian checkpoints—key gateways into Hong Kong—may each surpass 200,000.
Hong Kong’s Immigration Department has activated a three-tier contingency plan: additional e-Channel lanes at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau control points, temporary redeployment of 300 officers from headquarters, and real-time queue-length displays on the “Easy Boundary” mobile app. Cross-boundary coach operators have obtained ad-hoc permits to stage empty buses at the Shenzhen Bay Port, ready to enter service if ride-hailing wait times exceed 25 minutes.
Travelers who still need clarity on whether a visa or entry permit is required for these increasingly busy crossings can save valuable time by using VisaHQ’s digital concierge services. Through the Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) applicants can check requirements for Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, complete forms online, and receive real-time status alerts—essential when even minor paperwork issues can turn a 15-minute queue into a multi-hour ordeal.
![China forecasts record holiday border traffic; Hong Kong prepares contingency measures]()
Airports are also scaling up. Hong Kong International Airport coordinated with mainland counterparts to stagger flight banks, reducing simultaneous arrival peaks. Airlines have been asked to transmit Advance Passenger Information at least 45 minutes before push-back, enabling pre-arrival screening and faster gate allocation.
For businesses that rely on just-in-time deliveries or weekend consultants shuttling between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the message is clear: build buffer time into itineraries and monitor checkpoint dashboards. Some firms have activated remote-work protocols for staff crossing the border on 2 January, allowing them to log in from co-working spaces in Shenzhen if delays occur.
The NIA’s traffic projection, 22 percent higher than the same holiday period in 2025, underscores how rapidly mobility patterns are normalising. It also puts pressure on Hong Kong to fast-track announced infrastructure upgrades, including the expansion of Heung Yuen Wai/Liantang Port slated for completion before National Day.
Hong Kong’s Immigration Department has activated a three-tier contingency plan: additional e-Channel lanes at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau control points, temporary redeployment of 300 officers from headquarters, and real-time queue-length displays on the “Easy Boundary” mobile app. Cross-boundary coach operators have obtained ad-hoc permits to stage empty buses at the Shenzhen Bay Port, ready to enter service if ride-hailing wait times exceed 25 minutes.
Travelers who still need clarity on whether a visa or entry permit is required for these increasingly busy crossings can save valuable time by using VisaHQ’s digital concierge services. Through the Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) applicants can check requirements for Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, complete forms online, and receive real-time status alerts—essential when even minor paperwork issues can turn a 15-minute queue into a multi-hour ordeal.
Airports are also scaling up. Hong Kong International Airport coordinated with mainland counterparts to stagger flight banks, reducing simultaneous arrival peaks. Airlines have been asked to transmit Advance Passenger Information at least 45 minutes before push-back, enabling pre-arrival screening and faster gate allocation.
For businesses that rely on just-in-time deliveries or weekend consultants shuttling between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the message is clear: build buffer time into itineraries and monitor checkpoint dashboards. Some firms have activated remote-work protocols for staff crossing the border on 2 January, allowing them to log in from co-working spaces in Shenzhen if delays occur.
The NIA’s traffic projection, 22 percent higher than the same holiday period in 2025, underscores how rapidly mobility patterns are normalising. It also puts pressure on Hong Kong to fast-track announced infrastructure upgrades, including the expansion of Heung Yuen Wai/Liantang Port slated for completion before National Day.
