More than 556,000 people entered Hong Kong through various control points in the first two days of the Easter Holidays and about 67,000 were from the Chinese mainland.

According to Hong Kong's Immigration Department, 315,087 people came into Hong Kong on Saturday, 67,000 were from the Chinese mainland.

The department said Lo Wu has been the busiest control point, and 167,123 people entered into Hong Kong through this control point on Saturday.

Department stores as Sogo and Time Square arranged special bazaars and limited amount of sales for attracting more customers during the holidays.

In a related development, more than 360,000 people left Hong Kong Friday for the four-day Easter Holiday. The Chinese mainland remained the most popular destination for Hong Kong holidaymakers, with more than 180,000 people having crossed Lo Wu Control Point to the mainland by land by 5:00 p.m. Friday.

Japan is the favorite foreign destination for Hong Kong citizens as visa requirements have been waived since April 1.

In total, the Immigration Department expects 2.8 million border crossings during the holidays, 61 percent up from the Easter Holiday last year.

The department will deploy more than 180 officers for immigration clearance at major control points next Monday, which will be a re-entry peak.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2004)