Savvy Hongkongers book 9-day Lunar New Year break for festive trips across Asia

Hongkongers began departing the city in droves on Saturday, with many opting to take a nine-day Lunar New Year break to destinations across the rest of Asia.Travellers, including families with children and elderly relatives, gathered at check-in counters in Hong Kong International Airport in the morning as the city marked Valentine’s Day and prepared to ring in the Year of the Horse.Long queues of hundreds of travellers could be seen at the counters for HK Express, the budget arm of Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways.In a facility-wide announcement, airport staff urged travellers to proceed to immigration counters as soon as possible after checking in, noting that “a large number” of passengers were expected to depart the city.The Immigration Department earlier said that it expected the number of trips by residents and visitors alike would reach 11.38 million between February 14 and 23, an increase of 16 per cent from the previous Lunar New Year period.It added that more than 117,220 residents had left Hong Kong by 10am on Saturday, with around 27,840 departing via the airport.