A six percent rise in passenger traffic through Hong Kong's checkpoints is expected during the four-day Easter holiday, the Immigration Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Monday.

Between March 21 and 24, cross-boundary traffic is expected to be heavy and there will be about 1.4 million passengers, an average of 348,000 daily, passing through Lo Wu.

According to the Immigration Department, the peak at Lo Wu will fall on March 21 with 220,000 passengers departing for the Chinese mainland while on March 23 there will be 240,000 people returning to Hong Kong.

Passenger traffic at Lok Ma Chau will also be heavy with about 600,000 passengers, a daily average of 138,000. Most will depart for the Chinese mainland via Lok Ma Chau on March 21 while the busiest southbound passenger traffic will fall on March 23.

For the Ching Ming Festival 326,000 passengers are forecast to pass through Lo Wu and 142,000 through Lok Ma Chau daily from April 3 to 6 to sweep the tombs of their deceased family members on the Chinese mainland.

A joint command center manned by Immigration, Police and Customs officers and MTR Corporation staff will be formed at Lo Wu to oversee traffic conditions and implement contingency measures.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 18, 2008)