Huge crowds continued to stream out of Hong Kong on 4 April as residents took advantage of the extended break to visit mainland cities, Macau and Southeast Asia. DotDotNews reporters at West Kowloon Station counted departures exceeding 90% of train capacity by 10 a.m., while Lo Wu saw trains arrive “standing-room-only” on the East Rail Line. Immigration Department figures showed mainland-bound crossings up 23% on the same period last year, driven largely by the high-speed rail’s 16 new daily trains and airline fuel surcharges that have pushed short-haul airfares 35% higher than in 2025.
![Outbound tide swells on Day 2 of holidays, choking rail and land checkpoints]()
Whether travellers need an e-visa for a side trip to Vietnam, a China visa renewal, or paperwork for any other onward journey, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can streamline the process in a matter of clicks. The service lets users check requirements, upload documents and track approvals online, saving precious holiday hours that would otherwise be spent queuing at consulates.
Corporate mobility teams with China-based projects must brace for return-trip congestion on 7 April. Shenzhen hotels near Futian and Huanggang checkpoints report full occupancy, suggesting many travellers will delay re-entry until late Tuesday. The Transport Department has re-routed holiday shuttle buses around Lo Wu Station Road during peak hours, but it warns that last-mile taxi queues could still hit 45 minutes. Employers are advised to build extra buffer time into Monday-morning meeting schedules for staff travelling back to Hong Kong. Analysts note the surge underscores how the SAR’s mobility patterns are becoming ever more intertwined with the Greater Bay Area, despite slower recovery in long-haul tourism.
Whether travellers need an e-visa for a side trip to Vietnam, a China visa renewal, or paperwork for any other onward journey, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can streamline the process in a matter of clicks. The service lets users check requirements, upload documents and track approvals online, saving precious holiday hours that would otherwise be spent queuing at consulates.
Corporate mobility teams with China-based projects must brace for return-trip congestion on 7 April. Shenzhen hotels near Futian and Huanggang checkpoints report full occupancy, suggesting many travellers will delay re-entry until late Tuesday. The Transport Department has re-routed holiday shuttle buses around Lo Wu Station Road during peak hours, but it warns that last-mile taxi queues could still hit 45 minutes. Employers are advised to build extra buffer time into Monday-morning meeting schedules for staff travelling back to Hong Kong. Analysts note the surge underscores how the SAR’s mobility patterns are becoming ever more intertwined with the Greater Bay Area, despite slower recovery in long-haul tourism.
