The four-day Easter holiday kicked off today (April 18), with large numbers of Hong Kong residents traveling north to enjoy their break. The Immigration Department estimates that 6.04 million people will enter or leave HK over the holiday. Today marks the peak travel day for land boundary crossings, with an estimated 759,000 people expected to depart the city.
As early as 6:00 a.m., West Kowloon Station was already packed with travelers. Social media updates showed real-time images of the station overwhelmed by crowds. Many passengers, anticipating heavy traffic, arrived 90 minutes early to prepare for their journey. Despite the packed waiting halls, the station managed to maintain order through measures such as opening additional ticket gates and increasing staff to guide travelers. Transport efficiency remained stable overall.
By 10:00 a.m., the station was still teeming with people. Ms. Poon, a passenger, remarked, "It feels like there's barely any room to stand." The waiting hall was entirely filled, with no seats available and standing areas equally crowded. She noted that since she was traveling without luggage, she skipped customs baggage checks and found the immigration process relatively smooth, taking about ten minutes. "Although it's crowded, many gates are open, and there wasn't much queuing for document checks," she said.
Ms. Poon also observed that many HK residents were traveling with their families, towing luggage behind them. Among them were numerous four-day tour groups heading to destinations such as Guilin.
The Transport Department has reminded travelers to expect significant crowds at West Kowloon Station. Passengers are advised to allow sufficient time for immigration procedures and can enter the station starting two hours before departure from the B1 level. Additionally, MTR has enhanced its services since yesterday, with the Airport Express beginning earlier from Hong Kong Station and the East Rail Line increasing train frequency during peak periods today and on the upcoming Monday.
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