Keep borders, MTR open on special occasions: expert
A hospitality expert said on Wednesday that the travel chaos after the New Year's Eve fireworks' display was an isolated incident - but agreed that border crossings could stay open longer.  Almost 480,000 people gathered on both sides of Victoria Harbour to ring in 2024, and enjoy the New Year's Eve musical and pyrotechnics extravaganza. But many visitors struggled to return to the mainland after the fireworks, with networks overloaded and long queues for public transport. Dennis Wong, from the Vocational Training Council, said any extension to border crossing hours should also involve extended hours for the MTR to avoid clogging up the SAR's roads. "The Mass Transit Railway is the most powerful transportation network. If we provide a better service (with) longer hours so that people won't feel panic and they'll be able to choose the Mass Transit rather than ... other means of travel so it will release the pressure on the road," he told Hong Kong Today.  The Chief Secretary, Eric Chan, said on Tuesday that the government will consider keeping border crossings open around the clock. He said it would also talk to mainland counterparts about keeping railway links open later and stepping up train services on special occasions.