Lok Ma Chau throngs spark call for action stations
Lok Ma Chau throngs spark call for action stations
A total of 480,000 people visited Hong Kong as of 9pm on Friday, with more than half coming from the mainland. File photo: RTHK
Transport authorities have asked the railway operator to improve services to accommodate an influx of mainland visitors travelling to Hong Kong, a day after crowds of tourists flooded Lok Ma Chau MTR station.
The issue arose after the station's internet connection was overwhelmed by the number of travellers loading QR codes when entering and leaving via turnstiles during peak hours on Friday, causing longer than usual queues.
At one point, commuters were allowed to leave paid areas without having to touch out.
On Saturday, the Transport and Logistics Bureau said it was highly concerned about the situation and had requested MTR Corporation to strengthen services to ensure a "smooth and safe travel" experience for passengers.
"We will continue to monitor the situation at Lok Ma Chau station and various border control points while maintaining close contact with transport operators to make changes to our response plans in a timely manner during peak arrival and departure periods," the bureau said.
The railway firm, for its part, said it was doubling its internet capacity and would implement crowd-control measures.
Friday saw a total of 480,000 visitor arrivals as of 9pm, with more than half of them coming from the mainland.
More than 100,000 people made the crossing through Lok Ma Chau while some 94,000 came through Lo Wu.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
5 days ago
- RTHK
Half-price MTR rides on July 13
Half-price MTR rides on July 13 All passengers will enjoy half-fare rides on July 13. File photo: RTHK All MTR passengers will enjoy half-fare rides on Sunday, July 13, as part of a rebate arrangement due to its service suspension on the entire Tseung Kwan O line last month. Passengers will enjoy the discount on the MTR, light rail and MTR bus service, as well as cross-border trips running to and from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations on the East Rail Line, with the Octopus card or QR code tickets in the heavy rail network. In addition, the MTR will offer a free ride to passengers on the Tseung Kwan O line. Passengers who entered or exited stations along the line between May 18 and June 15 with Octopus are entitled to the free ride by June 20. To collect the free ride, passengers will have to register as a member on the MTR's mobile application by June 15. The rail firm will offer the public HK$19.2 million in compensation over the May 22 disruption during the evening rush hour that lasted more than five hours.
RTHK
5 days ago
- RTHK
Half-fare MTR rides on July 13
Half-fare MTR rides on July 13 All passengers will enjoy half-fare rides on July 13. File photo: RTHK All MTR passengers will enjoy half-fare rides on Sunday, July 13, as part of compensation due to its service suspension on the entire Tseung Kwan O line last month. Passengers will enjoy the discount on the MTR, light rail and MTR bus service, as well as cross-border trips running to and from Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations on the East Rail Line, with the Octopus card or QR code tickets in the heavy rail network. In addition, the MTR will offer a free ride to passengers on the Tseung Kwan O line. Passengers who entered or exited stations along the line between May 18 and June 15 with Octopus are entitled to the free ride by June 20. To collect the free ride, passengers will have to register as a member on the MTR's mobile application by June 15. The rail firm will offer the public HK$19.2 million in compensation over the May 22 disruption during the evening rush hour that lasted more than five hours and several other incidents.
RTHK
5 days ago
- RTHK
Cable car fares to rise by 6.2 percent
Cable car fares to rise by 6.2 percent Fare for a standard adult round-trip ticket on Ngong Ping 360 cable car will go up to HK$295 from the current HK$270. File photo: RTHK Tickets for the Ngong Ping 360 cable car system will go up for the first time in almost two years on June 10, with an average increase of 6.2 percent. The fare for a standard round-trip ticket for adults will go up to HK$295 from the current HK$270, while the price for children aged 3 to 11 will rise from HK$135 to HK$150. Crystal Cabin ticket prices will also increase for both adults and children, with round-trip fares going up to HK$365 and HK$220, respectively. Senior ticket prices will remain unchanged. Hong Kong residents, meanwhile, can enjoy the current fares until the end of August by presenting a valid Hong Kong ID or birth certificate. The cable car operator also announced that the price for the adult annual pass will climb to HK$620 from HK$595 from July 10.
