(b)
(c)
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25
Lo Wu is now able to process 9,200 passengers per hour during normal times and 11,500 passengers during peak periods. This represents an increase of 28% in the handling capacity for normal times and 35% for peak periods. The Airport is able to process 5,800 passengers per hour during normal times and 8,200 passengers per hour during peak periods. The increase in capacity is 4% and 5% respectively. As the proportion of machine readable passports cleared at the Airport is much larger, there will be a considerable improvement in the handling capacity when optical readers are installed for machine readable passport holders by September this year.
The increase in handling capacity is made possible not only by the installation of optical readers, but by an increase in manpower. Last year, we created 113 additional posts for Lo Wu. This year, we have just created 44 additional posts for the Airport.
Optical readers were installed at the Macau and China Ferry Terminals. last September for clearance of Hong Kong Identity Card holders. Additional readers will be installed this September. In fact, from September this year, all the counters at major control points will be installed with optical readers.
End/Wednesday, April 26, 1995
Visa application procedure
The following is a question by the Hon Simon Ip Sik-on and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council whether measures will be taken to make employment and commercial visa application procedures more efficient and transparent to applicants; if so, what the measures are, and whether the Immigration Department will consider adopting the following additional measures: