Hong Kong's Security Bureau said outbound passenger flow at Huanggang Port had increased sharply from around 11am on October 18, according to a report published that day. About 19,000 passengers departed for the Mainland via the port between noon and 2pm, an increase of 835 per cent compared with the same period in the past at Huanggang Port/Lok Ma Chau Control Point. In the peak hour from 1pm to 2pm, 9,728 outbound passenger trips were recorded, up 899 per cent on the same period in the past at the same control point.

The Immigration Department opened all clearance channels and counters at the L5 departure hall and, with the Police, implemented crowd diversion and control measures on L2 and L5. During the peak, waiting time for the L2 crowd arrangements was about 30 to 45 minutes, while waiting inside the L5 departure hall stayed within 30 minutes. The outbound peak gradually subsided from around 2pm; L2 measures were lifted at 2.10pm and the L5 waiting time had fallen below 15 minutes by 2.40pm.

The bureau said departments had assessed the potential surge and prepared diversion, queue-management and co-ordination plans in an earlier drill at the port involving around 20,000 participants, and that contingency plans were activated promptly with operations generally smooth. It said it would continue monitoring the port with the Immigration Department, Police and other departments.