National Day in Hong Kong: authorities brace for 8.8 million trips, up by 20%

Hong Kong authorities have started to prepare for a wave of travel during the National Day holiday next week when nearly 8.8 million trips are expected to be made across the city’s borders, an increase of more than 20 per cent over last year’s figure, and the city stages a massive fireworks display.

Industry experts have predicted that 1.5 million mainland Chinese tourists will visit the city over the “golden week” break, 10 per cent more than last year, with the celebration coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival on October 6.

The Immigration Department said on Friday that 8.76 million passengers would pass through local control points between October 1 and 8 and that traffic would be at its heaviest on Wednesday and Saturday next week.

“We advise all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points,” the department said.

It added that 700 e-channels would be opened at checkpoints to speed up clearance and urged travellers to visit “Easy Boundary”, an information platform with details about the average waiting time to cross the border and shuttle bus services.

Last year, 7.16 million cross-border trips were made between October 1 and 8, including 6.47 million in the first seven days of the mainland’s public holiday. This year’s estimated number was a jump of 22 per cent from the same period in 2024.