Authorities are rolling out extensive crowd control measures, enhanced transport services and stepped-up enforcement against unfair trade practices to ensure a smooth experience for visitors ahead of the mainland’s five-day Labour Day Golden Week.

The holiday period, which runs from May 1 to 5, is expected to bring about 980,000 mainland visitors to Hong Kong via sea, land, and air checkpoints — a seven percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to estimates from the Immigration Department.

The Travel Industry Authority also projects that around 770 inbound tour groups will arrive during the week.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan convened a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements on Monday to coordinate preparatory work across government agencies.

"The government will make good preparations for receiving visitors, as well as maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and the travel trade to prepare well for crowd management, information dissemination and arrangements of public transportation and boundary control points," Chan said.

At border checkpoints, authorities have minimised leave for frontline officers to allow flexible manpower deployment.

Additional counters and temporary lanes are being prepared to handle passenger and vehicle flows.

An inter-departmental joint command centre — involving police, immigration, customs, and other agencies — will operate throughout the holiday, maintaining real-time communication with mainland port authorities through established hotlines.

The government has reiterated a “zero-tolerance stance” toward coerced shopping and is urging visitors to patronise licensed travel agents.

Police will step up enforcement against taxi drivers who overcharge or refuse fares, while customs officials will increase inspections of shops serving tourists to combat unfair trade practices.

In tourist hotspots such as the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and the Peak, authorities will take strict action against illegally parked vehicles.

Vehicles causing serious obstruction will be towed without prior warning.

With large numbers of visitors expected at Sai Kung East Country Park, the government has implemented special measures at the High Island Reservoir East Dam.

Police will deploy uniformed officers at strategic locations for traffic and crowd management.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will use drones with broadcast capabilities to monitor the Po Pin Chau viewing platform and remind visitors not to cross newly installed railings.

Additional staff will conduct day-and-night patrols at campsites including Ham Tin Wan, Sai Wan and Long Ke Wan.

At Sharp Island, joint marine patrols involving the Marine Department and police will help maintain order.

Snorkelling and kayaking guides will patrol nearshore waters to remind visitors to follow designated routes.



Edited by Tony Sabine