Officials detail special LNY cross-border arrangements
Authorities on Wednesday called on cross-border revellers to use public transport as much as possible over the Lunar New Year holiday, with the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint to stay open around the clock for five days from Friday.  The special arrangement comes after many mainland visitors were stuck in Hong Kong after celebrating New Year's Eve, because of traffic jams at Lok Ma Chau – the only crossing open overnight. Police said if there is serious congestion over the Lunar New Year, some vehicles will be diverted to designated waiting areas at the crossings. Officers said once such a diversion takes place, it could take up to three hours for those in the waiting area to reach the border, so drivers should pay attention to media announcements or the force's social media – and plan ahead.  Special cross-border bus routes will also be running. Some will go from the Express Rail Station at West Kowloon on Saturday and Sunday, while there will be buses connecting Shenzhen Bay to Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai during the checkpoint's extended opening hours. There will also be increased services for regular cross-border coaches, including those departing from Prince Edward, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai. The force added that only vehicles with a closed area permit will be able to use the Lok Ma Chau crossing overnight, and those with permits for other crossings will have to pass through Shenzhen Bay. The Lo Wu border crossing, meanwhile, will open for an extra two hours until 2am on Sunday, after the fireworks display.  But the Transport Department's Wong Pak-kin said people should note that the East Rail will be the only MTR line staying open later than usual, and there will be no other extra public transport services. "I appeal to the public that, if you take the East Rail during the extended hours that night, you should plan your journey early, and understand how you can connect to your destinations [from East Rail stations]," he told a press conference. There will be various road closures due to the fireworks display, as well as for the Lunar New Year Night Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturday.